Women in agriculture: risk and injury experiences on family farms.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the one-year incidence of nonfatal farm injuries among women actively engaged in farm work; to determine the distribution of these injuries by external cause, severity, and other characteristics; and to determine the potential risk factors for injuries among farm women.


METHODS
A population-based study of the occurrence of agricultural injuries during the previous year was conducted in a stratified, random sample of 1096 actively working farm women in Texas and Louisiana. Sampling pools were generated from county plat listings in Texas and maintained mailing lists in Louisiana; counties were selected based on geographical and agricultural diversity. Eligible women were interviewed by phone about injury occurrences and patterns.


RESULTS
The cumulative one-year incidence of farm injuries for women in this area was 5% (95% CI = 3.7-6.3), based on the number of farm women injured. Lower extremities were the most frequently injured body parts. The leading external causes were contact with foreign object/substance, falls, and overdoing/lifting/hauling. Most injuries occurred in the summer or spring. Factors predictive of increased injury risk in adjusted logistic regression included working on large-animal farms, more time spent in farm work, persistent back pain or weakness during the previous 12 months, driving a tractor, and hauling farm goods to market. Most women consulted physicians as a result of their injuries.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians are in a unique position to institute interventions to prevent risky behaviors.
Carruth
A K
AK
College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University, Ms., USA.
Skarke
L
L
Moffett
B
B
Prestholdt
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*