title: Identification of barriers to the prevention and treatment of heat-related illness in Latino farmworkers using activity-oriented, participatory rural appraisal focus group methods.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heat-related illness (HRI) is an important cause of non-fatal illness and death in farmworkers. We sought to identify potential barriers to HRI prevention and treatment in Latino farmworkers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted three semi-structured focus group discussions with 35 Latino farmworkers in the Central Washington, USA area using participatory rural appraisal techniques. Interviews were audio taped and transcribed in Spanish. Three researchers reviewed and coded transcripts and field notes, and investigator triangulation was used to identify relevant themes and quotes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the majority of participants in our study reported never receiving formal HRI training, most participants were aware that extreme heat can cause illness and were able to accurately describe HRI symptoms, risk factors, and certain prevention strategies. Four main observations regarding farmworkers' HRI-relevant beliefs and attitudes were identified: 1) farmworkers subscribe to varying degrees to the belief that cooling treatments should be avoided after heat exposure, with some believing that such treatments should be avoided after heat exposure, and others encouraging the use of such treatments; 2) the desire to lose weight may be reflected in behaviors that promote increased sweating; 3) highly caffeinated energy drinks are preferred to increase work efficiency and maintain alertness; and 4) the location of drinking water at work (e.g. next to restrooms) and whether water is clean, but not necessarily chemically-treated, are important considerations in deciding whether to drink the water provided at worksites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We identified potential barriers to HRI prevention and treatment related to hydration, certain HRI treatments, clothing use, and the desire to lose weight among Latino farmworkers. Strategies to address potential barriers to HRI prevention and treatment in this population may include engineering, administrative, and health education and health promotion strategies at individual, workplace, community, and societal levels. Although farmworkers in our study were able to describe HRI risk factors, reported practices were not necessarily consistent with reported knowledge. Further study of potential knowledge-behavior gaps may uncover opportunities for additional HRI prevention strategies. Farmworkers and employers should be included in the development and evaluation of interventions to prevent HRI.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krenz
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palmández
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Negrete
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perla
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murphy-Robinson
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. spectj@uw.edu.
authors.forename: June T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Spector
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D055874:Extreme Heat; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D017144:Focus Groups; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D016272:Occupational Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D014861:Washington; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult