The objective of this study was to use a recent national probability survey of the noninstitution... more The objective of this study was to use a recent national probability survey of the noninstitutionalized older adult population to compare the functional status and self-care practices of older adults residing in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan communities and to identify differences associated with residential location. The survey used in this study was the National Survey of Self-care and Aging (NSSCA). A cross-sectional design was employed using weighted bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to examine the relationship between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan residential location and self-reported ability to perform basic, mobility, and instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs), as well as to assess the degree to which the levels and types of functional limitations affect metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan older adults' performance of self-care activities.
Pesticide exposure among migrant and seasonal farmworkers is a major occupational health concern ... more Pesticide exposure among migrant and seasonal farmworkers is a major occupational health concern in the United States (Arcury and Quandt 1998; Moses 1989; Moses et al. 1993). In response to these concerns, the US Environmental Protection Agency has implemented the Worker ...
Pesticide exposure has been linked with immediate and delayed health effects. Anyone who lives in... more Pesticide exposure has been linked with immediate and delayed health effects. Anyone who lives in a farmworker household may be exposed to pesticides. Studies with farmworkers have found generally low levels of awareness of pesticide exposure and prevention. Less is known about the perceptions of nonfarmworkers living with farmworkers. This article presents the results of 41 in-depth interviews conducted with Latino women in farmworker households regarding their knowledge of pesticides and perceptions of risk to their children's health. Their perceptions and behavior differ from scientific understanding and policy recommendations for exposure management, resulting in behaviors that may increase children's risk of exposure and subsequent health problems. Because the level at which exposure becomes harmful remains a subject of scientific debate, the wisest course of action is to minimize exposure (the precautionary principle). Families living in farmworker households would benefit from health education programs that target their specific needs.
This article examines the association of children&amp... more This article examines the association of children's health with their parents' performance in the workplace using data from a random survey sample of adults living in rural western North Carolina (N=206). Guided by the effort-recovery model, the authors hypothesized that parents whose children are more ill have poorer performance in the workplace because their parenting requires greater effort and they have less opportunity for physical and psychological recovery. Child health was unassociated with parents cutting back at work because of physical health. Poorer child health was associated with parents cutting back at work because of emotional health, and a portion of this association, as hypothesized, was explained by more limited opportunities for parental recovery. There was no evidence suggesting that associations differed by parental gender.
Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is a highly prevalent occupational illness among tobacco workers. Wo... more Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is a highly prevalent occupational illness among tobacco workers. Working in wet tobacco is a major risk factor for GTS. Little is known about preventing GTS. This analysis examines possible GTS preventive measures. Data were collected from 36 patients with GTS and 40 controls who presented at clinics in eastern North Carolina in 1999 and 2000. Each participant completed an interview that included questions about their personal characteristics, work characteristics, and GTS risk factors. Participants were Mexican men. Those with GTS were much less likely to have worn rain suits while working in wet tobacco and more likely to be in the United States on a work contract. Wearing a rain suit while working in wet tobacco can significantly reduce the risk of GTS among tobacco workers. Care must be taken that farmworkers do not have heat stress from wearing rain suits.
Studies to assess pesticide exposure of individuals living in agricultural settings suggest that ... more Studies to assess pesticide exposure of individuals living in agricultural settings suggest that farmworkers create a "take-home" pathway from the fields to the home that increases exposure risk for non-farmworker household members. A survey was conducted with 142 Latino women in farmworker family households in North Carolina to identify predictors of adherence to pesticide safety behaviors that may affect take-home exposure risk. Behaviors included changing work clothes before entering the house, storing and washing contaminated work clothes separately from family clothing, and showering upon returning home. The number of farmworkers in the household was negatively associated with adherence to recommended changing, storing, and showering behaviors. Most workers followed recommended laundry procedures for work clothes. Results support existing evidence for a take-home pathway for pesticide residues in homes with several farmworkers. Pesticide safety education needs to reinforce behaviors that reduce take-home exposure in farmworker households.
Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is a highly prevalent occupational illness among tobacco workers. Wo... more Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is a highly prevalent occupational illness among tobacco workers. Working in wet tobacco is a major risk factor for GTS. Little is known about preventing GTS. This analysis examines possible GTS preventive measures. Data were collected from 36 patients with GTS and 40 controls who presented at clinics in eastern North Carolina in 1999 and 2000. Each participant completed an interview that included questions about their personal characteristics, work characteristics, and GTS risk factors. Participants were Mexican men. Those with GTS were much less likely to have worn rain suits while working in wet tobacco and more likely to be in the United States on a work contract. Wearing a rain suit while working in wet tobacco can significantly reduce the risk of GTS among tobacco workers. Care must be taken that farmworkers do not have heat stress from wearing rain suits.
Health Education & Behavior receives a large number of manuscripts for consideration ... more Health Education & Behavior receives a large number of manuscripts for consideration each year. It is necessary to employ special expertise to ensure proper appraisal of each article. The journal, therefore, must go beyond its Editorial Board to solicit evaluations from members of its ad hoc review panel. It is with great appreciation that we acknowledge the invaluable assistance, during 2005, of the following reviewers:
The objective of this study was to use a recent national probability survey of the noninstitution... more The objective of this study was to use a recent national probability survey of the noninstitutionalized older adult population to compare the functional status and self-care practices of older adults residing in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan communities and to identify differences associated with residential location. The survey used in this study was the National Survey of Self-care and Aging (NSSCA). A cross-sectional design was employed using weighted bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to examine the relationship between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan residential location and self-reported ability to perform basic, mobility, and instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs), as well as to assess the degree to which the levels and types of functional limitations affect metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan older adults' performance of self-care activities.
Pesticide exposure among migrant and seasonal farmworkers is a major occupational health concern ... more Pesticide exposure among migrant and seasonal farmworkers is a major occupational health concern in the United States (Arcury and Quandt 1998; Moses 1989; Moses et al. 1993). In response to these concerns, the US Environmental Protection Agency has implemented the Worker ...
Pesticide exposure has been linked with immediate and delayed health effects. Anyone who lives in... more Pesticide exposure has been linked with immediate and delayed health effects. Anyone who lives in a farmworker household may be exposed to pesticides. Studies with farmworkers have found generally low levels of awareness of pesticide exposure and prevention. Less is known about the perceptions of nonfarmworkers living with farmworkers. This article presents the results of 41 in-depth interviews conducted with Latino women in farmworker households regarding their knowledge of pesticides and perceptions of risk to their children's health. Their perceptions and behavior differ from scientific understanding and policy recommendations for exposure management, resulting in behaviors that may increase children's risk of exposure and subsequent health problems. Because the level at which exposure becomes harmful remains a subject of scientific debate, the wisest course of action is to minimize exposure (the precautionary principle). Families living in farmworker households would benefit from health education programs that target their specific needs.
This article examines the association of children&amp... more This article examines the association of children's health with their parents' performance in the workplace using data from a random survey sample of adults living in rural western North Carolina (N=206). Guided by the effort-recovery model, the authors hypothesized that parents whose children are more ill have poorer performance in the workplace because their parenting requires greater effort and they have less opportunity for physical and psychological recovery. Child health was unassociated with parents cutting back at work because of physical health. Poorer child health was associated with parents cutting back at work because of emotional health, and a portion of this association, as hypothesized, was explained by more limited opportunities for parental recovery. There was no evidence suggesting that associations differed by parental gender.
Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is a highly prevalent occupational illness among tobacco workers. Wo... more Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is a highly prevalent occupational illness among tobacco workers. Working in wet tobacco is a major risk factor for GTS. Little is known about preventing GTS. This analysis examines possible GTS preventive measures. Data were collected from 36 patients with GTS and 40 controls who presented at clinics in eastern North Carolina in 1999 and 2000. Each participant completed an interview that included questions about their personal characteristics, work characteristics, and GTS risk factors. Participants were Mexican men. Those with GTS were much less likely to have worn rain suits while working in wet tobacco and more likely to be in the United States on a work contract. Wearing a rain suit while working in wet tobacco can significantly reduce the risk of GTS among tobacco workers. Care must be taken that farmworkers do not have heat stress from wearing rain suits.
Studies to assess pesticide exposure of individuals living in agricultural settings suggest that ... more Studies to assess pesticide exposure of individuals living in agricultural settings suggest that farmworkers create a "take-home" pathway from the fields to the home that increases exposure risk for non-farmworker household members. A survey was conducted with 142 Latino women in farmworker family households in North Carolina to identify predictors of adherence to pesticide safety behaviors that may affect take-home exposure risk. Behaviors included changing work clothes before entering the house, storing and washing contaminated work clothes separately from family clothing, and showering upon returning home. The number of farmworkers in the household was negatively associated with adherence to recommended changing, storing, and showering behaviors. Most workers followed recommended laundry procedures for work clothes. Results support existing evidence for a take-home pathway for pesticide residues in homes with several farmworkers. Pesticide safety education needs to reinforce behaviors that reduce take-home exposure in farmworker households.
Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is a highly prevalent occupational illness among tobacco workers. Wo... more Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is a highly prevalent occupational illness among tobacco workers. Working in wet tobacco is a major risk factor for GTS. Little is known about preventing GTS. This analysis examines possible GTS preventive measures. Data were collected from 36 patients with GTS and 40 controls who presented at clinics in eastern North Carolina in 1999 and 2000. Each participant completed an interview that included questions about their personal characteristics, work characteristics, and GTS risk factors. Participants were Mexican men. Those with GTS were much less likely to have worn rain suits while working in wet tobacco and more likely to be in the United States on a work contract. Wearing a rain suit while working in wet tobacco can significantly reduce the risk of GTS among tobacco workers. Care must be taken that farmworkers do not have heat stress from wearing rain suits.
Health Education & Behavior receives a large number of manuscripts for consideration ... more Health Education & Behavior receives a large number of manuscripts for consideration each year. It is necessary to employ special expertise to ensure proper appraisal of each article. The journal, therefore, must go beyond its Editorial Board to solicit evaluations from members of its ad hoc review panel. It is with great appreciation that we acknowledge the invaluable assistance, during 2005, of the following reviewers:
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