title: The association of skin conditions with housing conditions among North Carolina Latino migrant farm workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Skin conditions are common among Latino migrant farm workers. Although many skin conditions are related to occupational exposures, poor housing conditions may also contribute to skin ailments in migrant farm workers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between housing conditions and skin conditions among Latino migrant farm workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study design using interview questionnaires, home inspections, and environmental sampling was implemented to document housing quality of farm worker camps/homes and the prevalence of self-reported skin conditions in Latino migrant farm workers. Interviews were completed with 371 farm workers residing in 186 of the 226 camps (camp response rate 82.3%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Self-reported pruritus (31%), rash (25%), scaling (12%), blisters (11%), and ingrown nails (10%) were common among the participants. Pruritus was more likely to be reported by farm workers living in dwellings without air-conditioning (P < 0.05). Rash was associated with dwellings reported to have a low humidity (P < 0.05). Scaling was more likely to be reported by farm workers living in dwellings with indoor temperatures in the thermal discomfort range (P < 0.05). No statistically significant associations were detected for indoor allergens and self-reported skin ailments among migrant farm workers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Skin conditions are common among migrant farm workers in North Carolina. The quality of housing conditions, particularly hot, dry indoor thermal environment, demonstrated significant associations with pruritus, rash, and scaling. The impact of housing characteristics on pruritus and blisters was greatest in new migrant farm workers. Further research is needed to delineate additional housing factors that could cause or exacerbate skin diseases in farm workers.
authors.affiliation: Center for Dermatology Research, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Gustafson
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Quandt
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Isom
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chaya R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Spears
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Arcury
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D000389:Air Conditioning; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult