UC Irvine

Background

Cattle production in the United States is heavily supported by Latino/a workers. Beyond injury rates, our understanding of the health status of cattle feedyard workers is limited. The purpose of this study was to describe the health status and health care access among Latino immigrant cattle feedyard workers in the Midwest.

Methods

A cross-sectional design using face-to-face structured interviews with Latino immigrant cattle feedyard workers in Kansas and Nebraska was conducted between May 2017 and February 2020.

Findings

A total of 243 workers completed interviews; 91% were men. Over half (58%) had health insurance but few (36%) had a regular health care provider. Few chronic health conditions were reported despite most being overweight (53%) or obese (37%). The sample mean of sleep hours/24 hours was 7.1 ± 1.1. Problem drinking was moderate (42%), cigarette smoking was low (14%), and drug use was extremely low (<1%). Receiving health information from work was associated with less problem drinking, less obesity, lower blood pressure, and better sleep.

Conclusions

Although few workers reported having a chronic health condition, most workers had chronic disease risk (i.e., elevated body mass index, problem drinking) and few had a regular health care provider. Receiving health information at work may have protective health effects.

Applications to practice

Occupational health professionals can partner with feedyard employers to expand current health and safety training programs beyond injury prevention to focus on health more broadly and to connect workers with local health care resources.