An Exploratory Study of Occupational Safety and Health with Limited Resource African-American Farmers

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives: Limited resource African-American farmers exist at the nexus of several correlates of disparities (e.g., minority, poor, rural, and agricultural) and beyond the reach of most health promotion programs. Minimal research addresses their occupational safety and health. We proposed to explore such concerns with them. Methods: We conducted phenomenological interviews with nine farmers about work practices, farm operations, safety practices, health, and sources of information and assistance. We audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed interviews to code topics and identify themes. Results: The farmers varied in background, land ownership, farm products, and degree of resource limitation. We identified six themes: limited capital and sources of information, old unsafe machinery and equipment, a pragmatic resilient attitude, distrust of public institutions and agencies, lack of safety training useful on their farms, and personal health conditions. Conclusion: These themes raise hypotheses about limited resource African-American farmers’ experience with agricultural safety and health compounded by various economic, environmental, behavioral, social, and institutional determinants. We recommend that these hypotheses be pursued with effective community engagement and partnership to collect and interpret needed data from samples representative of the population of these farmers, including comparison with other limited resource farmer populations.