Occupational health outcomes among self-identified immigrant workers living and working in Somerville, Massachusetts 2006-2009.
Authors
Panikkar-B; Woodin-MA; Brugge-D; Desmarais-AM; Hyatt-R; Gute-DM; Community Partners of the Somerville Community Immigrant Worker Project
Source
J Immigr Minor Health 2013 Oct; 15(5):882-889
Abstract
This study examines the burden of occupational health risks among a convenience sample of three immigrant worker populations (Brazilian, Haitian, and El Salvadoran) in Somerville, Massachusetts. In this community based research initiative (n = 346), logistic regression is used to analyze immigrant occupational health survey data collected from 2006 to 2009. In this study, injuries at work were significantly associated with lower English proficiency (OR = 1.8, 95 % CI 1.1-3.0), workers between the ages of 46 and 65 (OR = 2.7, 95 % CI 1.0-7.0), service workers (OR = 13.8, 95 % CI 1.8-105.2), production workers (OR = 10.8, 95 % CI 1.3-90.1), construction workers (OR: 21.7, 95 % CI 2.8-170.9) and immigrants with no health insurance (OR = 1.8, 95 % CI 1.0-3.1). Injuries were negatively associated with years in the US with more established immigrants in the US >15 years reporting more injuries at work. Older immigrants who have been in the US longer but are less proficient in English, and are still employed in low-wage occupations with no health insurance suffered more injuries than recent immigrants. Further validation of this result is required.
Keywords
Health-care; Occupational-health; Occupations; Racial-factors; Service-industries; Health-services; Health-surveys; Risk-analysis; Risk-factors; Construction; Construction-workers; Injuries; Service-industries; Industrial-factory-workers; Age-factors;
Author Keywords: Occupational health; Immigrant health; Construction; Health access; Community based participatory research
Contact
Bindu Panikkar, Department of Sociology and Anthroplogy, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
bpanikkar@hotmail.com
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-R25-OH-008776
Source Name
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Performing Organization
Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
