title: Perceptions of housing conditions among migrant farmworkers and their families: implications for health, safety and social policy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the USA, migrant farmworkers are a vulnerable group due to their low socioeconomic status, risk of occupational exposures and injury, lack of social mobility, lack of adequate access to health services and dependency on employer for provided housing. Previous reports have documented migrant farmworker housing conditions to be variable, but poor overall. This paper explores the perceptions of housing conditions among migrant farmworkers in rural North Carolina, and develops an understanding of potential impacts of their housing on health and safety.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used qualitative descriptive data and directed content analysis to analyse semi-structured interviews and photographs that were data elements of a larger community-based participatory research study designed to document housing quality and health among North Carolina farmworkers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Many of the study participants described poor housing conditions that were reflected in the photographic analysis of the houses and camps. Specific problems described by the participants include exposure to pesticides, safety issues, pests, water supply and air quality, temperature and moisture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study describes migrant farmworkers' perceptions of housing quality and numerous potential impacts on health and safety. Research, social policy and practice-based implications derived from this research could serve to improve the health status of these individuals and their families. This study suggests there is much room for sustained advocacy and action, given that many of the farmworkers' descriptions and photographs depicted housing conditions below accepted standards of living. Access to adequate and safe employer-provided housing for migrant farmworkers should be considered a basic human right.
authors: University of Virginia School of Nursing, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. jlk2t@virginia.edu.
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Keim-Malpass
authors: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. cspears@wakehealth.edu.
authors: Chaya R
authors: CR
authors: Spears Johnson
authors: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. squandt@wakehealth.edu.
authors: Sara A
authors: SA
authors: Quandt
authors: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. tarcury@wakehealth.edu.
authors: Thomas A
authors: TA
authors: Arcury
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D000397:Air Pollution; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000592:standards; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006798:Housing / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis; D010781:Photography; D011287:Prejudice; D011640:Public Policy; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012449:Safety / Q000592:standards*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides
keywords: Accreditation/Standards; Community Participation; Determinants of Health; Environmental Health; Health Scientist; Human Rights and Ethics; Medical; Men's Health; North America; Nursing; Occupational Health; Public Health; Qualitative Research; Refugee/immigrant health; Researcher; Women's Health; Workforce; Youth