Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate respiratory health problems, including suspected asthma, and healthcare provider utilization among a sample of Latinx hired child farmworkers in rural North Carolina (n = 140). In 2018, a respiratory health questionnaire and breathing tests were collected from Latinx child (11–19 years) farmworkers (35.0% girls and 65.0% boys). Overall, 21.4% of children reported having been told by a medical provider that they had asthma, yet based on a combination of responses to respiratory survey questions, 36.4% or 15% more were identified as having suspected asthma. While 56.4% reported having a regular medical doctor, 38% had not had a medical exam in the past year. Respiratory dysfunction, including suspected, or uncontrolled asthma was prevalent among this group. Latinx children working in agriculture are vulnerable to occupational hazards and exposures and require assurances that they will receive access to high quality healthcare services that include routine respiratory health screenings.
Highlights
For child workers, agriculture is the most dangerous industry in the United States (U.S.), accounting for 42% of all youth work-related deaths [1,2]
Major findings of this study identified that many of these rural children hired to do farmwork experience respiratory dysfunction and have undiagnosed, or uncontrolled asthma
More in-depth research is needed to better evaluate these children’s utilization of healthcare services, cultural beliefs and respiratory problems associated with occupational exposures and specific job activities, such as working in tobacco
Summary
Agriculture is the most dangerous industry in the United States (U.S.), accounting for 42% of all youth work-related deaths [1,2]. Children as young as or can work any non-hazardous farm job outside school hours with either parental permission or on the same farm where a parent is working. Children or years of age can hold any non-hazardous farm job outside school hours and youths and older can work any farm job, hazardous or non-hazardous, for any length of time [2,4]. It is not known how many hired children between the ages of 10 to 17 years of age work on U.S
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
