The observation of behavioral change with migrant farmworkers (MFW) following an educational intervention poses a great challenge. The Reducing Pesticides in Minority Communities project conducted focus groups with MFW families for the purpose of obtaining information regarding the acceptability and feasibility of behavioral observation at their home sites. The research project, which partnered the Oregon Migrant Head Start Program with the Oregon Health Sciences University, developed and evaluated a pesticide exposure prevention video directed towards the protection of MFW children. The video was evaluated for knowledge change, satisfaction, and verbal reports of expected behavioral changes. The question remained whether MFWs actually changed their behaviors after viewing the video. Observation of their behaviors would be necessary to answer this question. Three focus groups, with a total of 49 participants, were conducted in Spanish by a Mexican male who was the speaker in the pesticide video. After viewing the video, participants were asked a variety of questions regarding observation of their behaviors. Demographics showed 48 Mexican-born individuals, 24 males, and 40 participants with six years of education or more. Job locations included fieldwork (31), packing plant (9), and nursery work (9). Sixteen participants denied receiving any past pesticide education. This presentation will include findings from the focus groups regarding behaviors easiest to change and observe, where, how, and who best to observe, and the effects of observation. Although the focus groups verifed the challenge of observation, the groups revealed their willingness to participate and a variety of creative ideas.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to: 1. discuss the need for the observation of behaviors following a health education intervention with migrant farmworkers 2. list 3 challenges to observing migrant farmworker behaviors at their home sites 3. list 3 methods from the migrant farmworker's perspective for observing behaviors at the home site
Keywords: Migrant Farm Workers, Health Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.