Pregnancy Health Among Florida Farmworkers

描述(申请人提供)：农业一直被列为美国最危险的三种职业之一，但很少有研究调查劳动力中孕妇面临的具体风险。接触农用化学品是一项重大的职业和生殖危害，长时间站立、暴露于高温和脱水等其他因素也有可能影响孕妇及其未出生的孩子的健康。在这项探索性研究中，来自埃默里大学和佛罗里达大学的研究人员将与佛罗里达州农民工人协会和农民工人健康与安全研究所合作，研究女性农场工人如何评估某些环境和职业危害对怀孕的风险。这一伙伴关系将以社区为基础的参与性研究以及农场工人的教育和组织方法方面的专家聚集在一起。研究小组在孕产妇健康的职业暴露和临床背景方面拥有广泛的科学专业知识。我们将调查佛罗里达州在托儿所和畜牧场工作的女性农场工人目前对工作危险和怀孕健康的看法，并对可能影响农场工人妇女怀孕结局的高温、人体工程学和化学暴露的程度进行大型社区调查。我们将评估接触杀虫剂的生物标记物在我们女性人口中的子样本。将为女性农场工人编写文化和语言上适当的教育材料，强调在怀孕期间促进健康和保护行为，并将通过农场工人社区公共论坛、同行评议的期刊文章、在专业会议上的演讲和网上出版物，向农场工人和卫生和科学界传播经验教训、研究成果和教育材料。 公共卫生相关性：在这项探索性研究中，来自埃默里大学和佛罗里达大学的研究人员将与佛罗里达州农民工人协会和农民工人健康与安全研究所合作，调查农场女性工人如何评估某些环境和职业危害对怀孕的风险。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Agriculture consistently ranks as one of the three most hazardous occupations in the United States, yet few studies have been conducted that examine the specific risks to pregnant women in the workforce. Exposure to agricultural chemicals is a major occupational and reproductive hazard and other factors such as long periods of standing, exposure to heat and dehydration also have the potential to impact the health of pregnant women and their unborn children. In this exploratory study investigators from Emory University, and the University of Florida will partner with the Farmworker Association of Florida and the Farmworker Health and Safety Institute to examine how female farmworkers assess the risks of certain environmental and occupational hazards to pregnancy. This partnership brings together experts in community-based participatory research and methods of education and organizing among farmworkers. The study team has extensive scientific expertise in occupational exposures and clinical backgrounds in maternal health. We will examine current perceptions of work hazards and pregnancy health among female farmworkers working in nursery and fernery operations in Florida and conduct a large community survey of the extent of exposures to heat, ergonomic and chemical exposures that have the potential to impact pregnancy outcomes among farmworker women. We will assess biomarkers of pesticide exposure in a subsample of our female population. Culturally and linguistically- appropriate educational materials emphasizing health promoting and protective behaviors during pregnancy for female farmworkers will be developed and lessons learned, study results and educational materials will be disseminated to farmworkers and the health and scientific community through farmworker community public forums, peer reviewed journal articles, presentations at professional conferences and, and web-based publications. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: In this exploratory study investigators from Emory University, and the University of Florida will partner with the Farmworker Association of Florida and the Farmworker Health and Safety Institute to examine how female farmworkers assess the risks of certain environmental and occupational hazards to pregnancy.