Health needs of migrant children

Abstract

An estimated 4 million persons in the United States are classified as migrant and seasonal farm workers (Slesinger and Ofstead 1996). Migrant farm workers follow the crops and move from place to place usually along predetermined routes. Seasonal farm workers on the other hand tend to live and work in one area. They work whenever farm work is available hence the term seasonal. Both groups of farm laborers have incomes well below the poverty level. Most migrant farm workers are multigenerational that is their families have been farm workers for several generations and many have followed the same work stream for years (see Box 1). Although some of these persons have worked in the United States for many years they often are not U.S. citizens and may even be in the country illegally. Most families migrate from early spring until late fall and go one or more states (Schneider 1986). Farm workers usually are not covered by health insurance because most farm owners especially those who own smaller farms cannot afford to provide health insurance for their workers. For this reasons migrant farm workers tend to seek health care only when they believe it is necessary usually in acute situations. (excerpt)