A Study on the Health of Migrant Farmers at Seasonal Work

Abstract

The present study was conducted to reveal the occupational problems of farmers during their seasonal work and their life and health conditions with a view to improving their health. The subjects were 675 farmers working in urban areas away from a rural region with a population of 9237. A questionnaire was mailed to them at the time of seasonal work and of farming and the results are presented as follows. 1. The aging of seasonal workers is advancing rapidly year by year. The main occupation they engaged in was construction (65%). The length of working hours a day was 9-10 hours in 57%. The chief objective for taking up seasonal work was: to acquire more income for daily expenses in 54% and to repay debt in 16%. Fifty-four percent of farmers were sending 80% or more of their monthly pay to their families. 2. Of 498 examinees of the health check conducted prior to their'seasonal work, 24% were found to have some disorders, and cardiovascular diseases accounted for 65.7%. In reply to questionnaire, 150 admitted having pathological histories, 36% took medicine but did not have professional advice, and 33% remained unattended. As it is hard for the farmers to receive continued health care during their seasonal work, it is necessary to provide them with better health service and surveillance as well as better working and living conditions.