Program Logic model
Delivery of Health Services to Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers
Delivery of Health Services to Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers
Investigations by Arcury & Quandt (2007) reveal that farmworkers in the United States lack access to effective health care services. Migrant and seasonal farmworkers offer their services in at least 42 of the 50 states, and mostly comprises of Latinos and Hispanics. Ironically, many farmworkers are legal citizens of the US but still have limit access to proper healthcare. The population mainly lags behind in health services due to inadequate health knowledge, low income and lack of insurance and constant movements which make it difficult for the government to devise proper health plans.
Despite governmental efforts to improve health services among migrant and seasonal farm workers, the population still finds it difficult to prevent certain health conditions that are easily manageable. The major problem which makes it difficult for the population to have a healthy lifestyle is that many farmworkers lack adequate knowledge on health issues. Lack of knowledge makes it hard for the target group to identify their health needs, and also to know the health services that would solve their problems. Arcury & Quandt (2007) feel that educating the group on how to prevent certain ailments, and informing the farmers how to identify appropriate medication would be essential in improving the population’s general health. Inadequate educational knowledge among farmers who belong to minority groups exposes them to diseases such as HIV. Arcury & Quandt (2007) mention that “Women farmworkers in Florida and California have been found to be at greater risk than men in sexually acquiring HIV owing to the failure to use condoms and the practice of exchanging sex for money” (349).The authors further proceed to state that many women are at risk of acquiring HIV because they lack knowledge on how to prevent transmission. A large group of women who engage in farming practices choose to practice commercial sex with the belief that the act will provide alternative earnings. The choice however, only puts many women at the risk of contracting not only HIV but also other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
The report by Arcury & Quandt (2007) reveals that besides lack of health awareness, low income and lack of health insurance make it difficult for small farmers to attain the health services that any other person would want. It is unfortunate that despite the great roles farmworkers play, especially in relation to the production of fresh fruits and vegetables, their activities do not give them satisfying income once they take them to the market. Many migrant and farmworkers work on individual basis or in small groups which do not have employers, and this makes it difficult to qualify for governmental health insurance. Many families, due to lack of insurance, cannot afford high medical bills, and this exposes them to more health hazards. Arcury & Quandt (2007) suggest that the government should make plans that allow the population to generate satisfying income when they take their products to the market, or manufacturers. Creating self-help groups for the farmers will also make it easy to have access to insurance that lessen the burden of paying hefty medical bills.
The government finds some challenges in providing proper health services to migrant and seasonal farmers because of the constant movements that individuals in the population make in quest for fertile lands, or in search of other opportunities. Arcury & Quandt (2007) write that although many farmworkers are seasonal and do not frequently change their residence many others are migrants who only stay in particular locales for specific periods of the year. Arcury & Quandt (2007) give an example of 2002 when 42% of all the farmworkers in the US migrated to different locations. The constant movement makes it difficult for the government to make health plans that would suit the population, particularly when it comes to drug supply. The government would not want to supply large quantities of drugs, and dispatch more healthcare workers in areas where people constantly move because that may lead to wastage and unnecessary use of funds. It would be easier for the government to provide health services to the community if it had concrete figures of the people it should serve.
It is important to provide proper health services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers because of the risks that they face in their area of service. Arcury & Quandt (2007) state that farm workers face multiple hazards that may arise from the use of farm tools and chemicals. Farmers in the minority groups also put their health at risk because of longer hours of exposure to wind, allergens, dust, and ultraviolet light that widens the possibilities of developing ailments. Farmworkers who spend more hours under ultraviolet light are likely to experience short-term effects such as irritation, sensitivity, and photokeratitis. Farmers may also experience long-term effects of ultraviolet light which include retinal damage, cataracts, and pterygia which become difficult to control at the advanced stage. Arcury & Quandt (2007) recommend that health officers should work in collaboration with agricultural officers to offer teachings on how to engage in constructive agricultural practices. The teachings will equip farmers with the necessary skills they need to avoid contamination.
References
Arcury, T., & Quandt, S. (2007). Delivery of health services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers. The Annual Review of Public Health, 28, 345-363.
