title: "Where they (live, work and) spray": pesticide exposure, childhood asthma and environmental justice among Mexican-American farmworkers.
abstract: Asthma prevalence is reportedly low for children of Mexican descent compared with other ethnic groups and Latino subgroups. The results of our exploratory ethnographic research among children of farmworkers in California dramatically suggest otherwise. Unstructured and semi-structured open-ended interviews and photovoice methods were combined to explore the lived experiences of members of a marginalized farmworker community. This research gives voice to a population of families living in the highly toxic, yet agriculturally wealthy environment of the San Joaquin Valley. Little work has been reported employing photovoice, a community-based participatory research method, to study childhood exposure to pesticides. A rich narrative about perceptions of pesticide exposure emerged from the ethnographic interviews. Thematic analysis yielded beliefs about the relationship between air quality and childhood asthma. The findings suggest that childhood asthma should be reviewed within the context of local levels of environmental exposure and the principles of environmental justice.
authors: El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, San Antonio del Mar, Baja California, Mexico.
authors: Norah Anita
authors: NA
authors: Schwartz
authors: El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, San Antonio del Mar, Baja California, Mexico. Electronic address: cglascoe@colef.mx.
authors: Christine Alysse
authors: CA
authors: von Glascoe
authors: California State University, Fresno, United States.
authors: Victor
authors: V
authors: Torres
authors: California State University, Fresno, United States.
authors: Lorena
authors: L
authors: Ramos
authors: California State University, Fresno, United States.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Soria-Delgado
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000383:Agriculture; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000067565:Farmers; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012424:Rural Population; D012574:Schools; D012935:Social Justice
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides
keywords: Asthma; Environmental justice; Farmworker children; Mexican American; Pesticides