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Migrant women farm workers in the occupational health literature

Issue title: IEA 2012: 18th World congress on Ergonomics - Designing a sustainable future

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Habib, Rima R. | Fathallah, Fadi A.

Affiliations: Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Lebanon | Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis, USA

Note: [] Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]. Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, 3 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 8th floor, New York, NY 10017-2303, USA. Phone: +961-1-350000 Ext. 4630. Fax: +961-1-744470

Keywords: Migrant workers, women, agricultural work, physical and psychosocial factors, health

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0101-4356

Journal: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 4356-4362, 2012

Published: 2012
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Abstract

Little attention has been given to the vulnerable populations of migrant women agricultural workers. A systemic review in PubMed was carried out (1990-2008) using terms related to migrant agricultural workers, with specific focus on women. Case studies from Lebanon and California are presented to highlight key physical, psychosocial, and cultural risk factors among these working populations. The review revealed a host of potential problems that span from pesticide exposure and musculoskeletal disorders to socio-cultural barriers. Comprehensive exposure-outcome and intervention studies focusing specifically on migrant women in agriculture are lacking. In depth studies focusing on the work environment of migrant women workers in the agricultural sector are needed. Personal and environmental factors that influence health should be considered in any effective intervention aiming to influence policy making and have a positive impact on these vulnerable working populations.

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