Wellbeing

Previous research demonstrates the important impact of mental health on the well-being of farmers and farm workers. Farmworkers face seasonal work demands, workplace safety conditions, and occupational stressors that all contribute to the prevalence of stress and anxiety in Latino rural communities. Access to health care and culturally appropriate diagnostic and support services has also been identified as an essential barrier to reducing impact and burden. 

Previous studies have documented high levels of pesticide exposure among Latinx farmworkers. However, most research has focused almost exclusively on men, despite women representing an increasing proportion of the agricultural workforce. Some studies have indicated that women farmworkers experience Acute Pesticide Poisonings (APPs) at significantly higher rates than their male counterparts. 

Loggers and log truck drivers are at high risk for fatigue and stress, due to long working hours and high job demands. Few studies have characterized the determinants of fatigue, risks, and solutions for this vital workforce. 

Project Overview 

The goal of this rapid response project was to co-develop accurate and approachable public service announcements, radio spots, social media messages, and infographics about COVID-19 for agricultural employees. Fifty surveys about trusted information sources were administered in conjunction with the COVID-19 Farmworker Study (COFS), which asked about the impact of the pandemic on work experience, transportation, housing, and healthcare access. It brought in researchers from the UW Department of Communications (Dr. Carmen Gonzalez) and UW Department of Health Services (Dr.