Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess work-related hygiene practices and the frequency and location of skin rashes due to cutaneous contact with crop-associated materials (e.g., pesticides) for female nursery and fernery workers in Central Florida. A cross-sectional, community-based participatory research study of 237 female nursery and fernery workers between the ages of 19 and 43 years with significant cutaneous contact with foliage crops was conducted using a self-report questionnaire and a skin rash chart assessment tool. Of the 237 farmworkers surveyed, 37.1% (n = 88) reported a rash on at least one area of their bodies. Women who were pregnant during the study were 4.7 times more likely to report more than 30% total body surface area (TBSA) covered by rash compared with non-pregnant fernery workers (p =.045; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.04, 21.35]). Further research is needed to better understand the development of skin rashes among farmworkers, to generate effective prevention strategies.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 313-321 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Workplace Health and Safety |
Volume | 65 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 1 2017 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- disease prevention
- government regulation
- occupational hazards
- occupational health and safety programs
- workforce
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Nursing (miscellaneous)