ResearchPromotores(as) Conduct Occupational Health Research
From 1996-1999, Migrant Health Promotion, Community Health Partnership of Illinois and Community Health of South Dade conducted one of the first major research efforts using the unique role of farmworker Promotores and Promotoras. The study, funded by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), investigated the prevalence of occupational injuries, illnesses and pesticide exposures among farmworkers in Illinois and Florida. Promotores(as) worked with other researchers to develop and pilot test a questionnaire and to design a random sampling strategy. Ten Illinois Promotores(as) and 12 Florida Promotores(as) completed 475 surveys with farmworkers in one growing season. The response rate exceeded 80 percent. The three most common work-related health conditions included back pain, irritated eyes and skin conditions. Fifty percent of those interviewed reported working in a field wet with pesticides. An article detailing the results is expected from NIOSH.
