Fatal Head Injuries among Hispanic Farmworkers and Farmers in Colorado, 1983-1992

Abstract

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the risk of head injury deaths among Hispanic Coloradoans employed in agriculture. Hispanic farmworkers and farmer deaths from head injury were compared to non-Hispanic farmworkers and farmers. Colorado death certificates were obtained for the years 1983-1992. Head injuries were defined using the contributing and external causes of death based on the Ninth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Occupational categories were based on 1980 Standard Occupational code equivalents. Denominators for risk estimates were based on 1990 United States Census of the Population for Colorado. Rates for head injury were calculated for each occupational category for Hispanics and non-Hispanics. Risk estimates comparing rates for Hispanic farmers and farm workers to non-Hispanics were: 1.79 (1.04, 3.11) and 2.5 (1.73, 3.60). Although there were no significant differences found comparing head injury rates of Hispanics and non-Hispanics among all Colorado residents, farmers and farmworkers of Hispanic origin were at significantly increased risk of head injury death compared to non-Hispanics in the same job categories.