Migrant Farmworkers Elective
As of 2022, the National Center for farmworker health estimated that there were approximately 2.9 million agricultural workers in the United states. Of this population, approximately 15% were identified as “migratory” agricultural workers versus 85% “settled” agricultural workers. Interestingly, most agricultural workers, settled and migratory, were foreign born (70% based on the available data from the National Center for farmworker health).
Both migratory and settled agricultural workers face unique health challenges and significant health disparities. Migratory workers, in particular, face numerous challenges and health disparities including but not limited to hazardous work environments, inadequate housing, limited availability to healthcare access, lack of insurance at times, lack of transportation, and poor continuity of care.
This elective will introduce students to health disparities faced by migrant and seasonal agricultural workers as well as to provide unique educational experiences/settings for these students.
Proficiency in medical Spanish is a requirement for this elective.
Course objectives
- To participate in the provision of care (preventative and acute) to “migrant workers”/”seasonal agricultural workers“ (individuals traveling regularly for short term/seasonal work) and their families.
- To provide patient care in rural and farming communities/
- To gain experience working within a mobile health unit for provision of care.
- To improve understanding of unique health concerns facing vulnerable populations (migrant worker population) as well as barriers to receiving consistent high quality health care.
- To understand what constitutes a migratory and seasonal agricultural worker and contextualize this within the framework of rural health.
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