Female farmworkers' health during pregnancy: health care providers' perspectives

Maureen A Kelley1, Joan D Flocks, Jeannie Economos

  • 1Neil Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. makelle@emory.edu

Pregnant farmworkers and their fetuses are at increased risk of negative health outcomes due to environmental and occupational factors at their workplaces. Health care providers who serve farm communities can positively affect workers' health through the informed care they deliver. Yet, interviews with rural health care providers reveal limited knowledge about agricultural work or occupational and environmental health risks during pregnancy. Professional associations, government organizations, academic institutions, and practice settings must renew their efforts to ensure that environmental and occupational health education, especially as it relates to women and their children, is incorporated into academic and practice environments.

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