Fwd: FJFTALK: Migrant health study from Michigan

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Web posted Tuesday, November 12, 2002

>Holland (Mich.) Sentinel

>

>http://www.hollandsentinel.com/stories/111202/loc_111202002.shtml

>

>Study faults migrant health care

>A Michigan State University study finds migrant workers have poor access to

>health care services in Ottawa County, but local officials hope it will spur

>better treatment for migrant families.

>

>By JOHN BURDICK

>Staff writer

>

>A Michigan State University study finds migrant workers have poor access to

>health care services in Ottawa County, but local officials hope it will spur

>better treatment for migrant families.

>

>The report compiled by the n Samora Research Institute and the Medical

>Anthropology Program from MSU found migrant workers have poorer general

>health, receive less screening for preventive health purposes, have little

>access to health and dental care, carry less insurance coverage and earn

>lower incomes than other Ottawa County residents.

>

> " They have limited access to health care, limited funds and have a language

>barrier as well, " said Sheri Derr, program adviser for Buen Pastor, which

>provides services for children of migrant farm workers. " We wanted to make

>the community aware of their problems. The study will also help in grant

>applications to provide funds so we can provide services to these

>individuals. "

>

>Eleanor , manager of information resources at Holland Community

>Hospital, said the study will be a valuable tool for health care

>organizations.

>

> " It will provide direction for the medical community and improve the health

>status of migrant farm workers, " said.

>

>The study findings might assist health organizations seeking grants to help

>provide needed services.

>

> " We have the data to show there is a need, " said.

>

>Officials interviewed 213migrant adult farm workers in the fall of 2001. The

>survey was designed and carried out by the Ottawa County Collaborative,

>which consists of 19 organizations throughout the county. The results were

>compared with the Ottawa County Behavioral Risk Factor Survey in 1999 to

>identify disparities in health status and access to care.

>

>Among the findings:

>

>* Nearly 65 percent of the Latino migrant population have never received a

>cholesterol test, as compared to one-fourth of other Ottawa County

>residents.

>

>* Nearly one-fourth, 23 percent, of Latino migrant workers have never had

>their blood pressure check, compared to less than 1 percent of other county

>residents.

>

>* About 55 percent of migrant women over the age 35 have received a

>mammogram compared with 85 percent of women of similar ages in the county.

>Of adult women, 61 percent of the migrant workers received a clinical breast

>exam compared to 97 percent of other adult women in the county.

>

>* Less than half, about 48 percent, of migrant farm workers had visited a

>dentist in the past two years compared to about 92 percent of the general

>population.

>

>* The vast majority, 85 percent, of migrant farmer workers have no health

>coverage while 94 percent of the general population has some type of

>coverage. Two-thirds of migrant households have annual incomes below $15,000

>while 95 percent of other Ottawa County households make above $15,000

>annually.

>

>* Only 28 percent of migrant men see a doctor once a year compared to 68

>percent of other adult men in the county . Overall, 45 percent of migrant

>farm workers see a doctor annually compared to 76 percent of the general

>population.

>

>More migrant workers smoke compared with the county's general population,

>but they smoke less than other smokers. The survey showed that 41 percent of

>migrants smoke compared to about 17 percent of other county residents. But

>migrant farm workers on average smoke five cigarettes a day compared to 16

>cigarettes a day among other county residents.

>

>The survey also showed that 57 percent of men migrant farm workers binge

>drink alcohol compared to about 24 percent of other men in Ottawa County.

>Female migrant workers, about 76 percent, were more likely to abstain from

>alcohol consumption than the general population figures of about 56 percent.

>

>Bruce Goldstein

>Farmworker Justice Fund, Inc.

>1010 Vermont Ave., NW, Ste. 915

>Washington, D.C. 20005

>202-783-2628 fax: 783-2561

>www.fwjustice.org

>