Occupational
Beyond the crops: exploring precarious employment among California, Washington, and Oregon farmworkers and its association with chronic disease Miriam Flores Moreno* Miriam Flores Moreno Flores Moreno Flores Moreno Flores Moreno University of Washington, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology
Background: Farmworkers endure long hours, low wages, minimal employment benefits, and are exploited and mistreated because of their race and immigration status. These factors encompass precarious employment (PE) and increase farmworkers’ risk of experiencing greater health disparities, and high rates of workplace injuries and fatalities compared to workers in other industries. We aim to understand PE and its association with chronic disease (diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease) among farmworker populations in California (CA), Washington (WA), and Oregon (OR), regions with high concentrations of farmworkers. Preliminary analysis explores one domain of PE, material rewards, with the indicator of average hourly wage.
Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the National Agricultural Workers Survey, pooling data from 2011-2018 cycles and applying regional survey weights. The association between PE and diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease was analyzed using log-binomial regression, adjusting for confounders (age, gender, immigration status), and including health insurance status as an interaction term.
Preliminary Results: Among farmworkers in CA, WA, and OR, higher hourly pay was associated with increased odds of diabetes (POR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.02, 1.26) and high blood pressure (POR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.04, 1.24); these associations did not differ by insurance status for diabetes (POR= 0.98, 95% CI: 0.83, 1.16) and high bloop pressure (POR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.80,1.02). Conversely, pay was not associated with heart disease (POR = 1.13, 95% CI 0.94, 1.36), and insurance status did not modify this association (POR = 0.70, 1.06). Future analysis will encompass the multidimensional construct of PE.
Conclusion: Understanding PE in the context of farmworker health is significant, as it is modifiable through institutional and structural policy changes and may enhance farmworkers’ health and well-being.