Occupational injuries among North Carolina migrant farmworkers.
A population-based cross-sectional study of occupational injuries among a random sample of 287 migrant farmworkers demonstrated frequent obstacles to health care; 65% (11/17) of the more seriously injured subjects did not receive prompt care or never received care. Subjects not receiving prompt care were twice as likely to have incomplete recovery. Employers covered medical expenses for only 5/13 (38%) of the injured workers, and only 3/15 were compensated for lost work. This study indicates that comprehensive Workers' Compensation coverage is urgently needed in North Carolina.
Ciesielski
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Department of Parasitology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Hall
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SP
Sweeney
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M
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D015982:Bias; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards