Occupational health outcomes among self-identified immigrant workers living and working in Somerville, Massachusetts 2006-2009

J Immigr Minor Health. 2013 Oct;15(5):882-9. doi: 10.1007/s10903-012-9702-7.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Brazil / ethnology
  • Community-Based Participatory Research
  • Confidence Intervals
  • El Salvador / ethnology
  • Emigrants and Immigrants*
  • Facility Design and Construction
  • Female
  • Haiti / ethnology
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Massachusetts
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Health / ethnology*
  • Odds Ratio
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care*
  • Social Identification
  • Young Adult