Empowering Farm Women to Reduce Hazards to Family Health and Safety on the Farm

Abstract

ABSTRACT We describe a unique example of a community participation program to prevent agricultural injury and illness on family farms in two south-central Kentucky counties. Funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, this three-year program builds on existing social networks among farm women and on the traditional role of women as the primary health officers of their families. Twelve influential farm women were recruited as the core group of the Kentucky Partnership for Farm Family Health and Safety in February 1993. Together with technical assistance from two universities, they built a coalition of local farm families, health professionals, businesses, and volunteer agencies. Based on the findings of county-wide surveys of farm women, the Partnership members planned and implemented farm safety training programs, including presentations for over 5,000 school students and at over 100 community events. Another innovative educational tool developed by the women was “photonovels” featuring local people in agricultural safety scenarios. Photonovels are booklets that use photographs with a story featuring local people in familiar local settings to deliver a message. On their own farms, these women have taken measures to reduce hazards. By focusing on the empowerment of farm women as change agents to improve the health and safety of farm families and communities, this program can serve as a model for opening new pathways to reduce risks on small family farms.