Chronic Illness News and Updates
Impacts of COVID-19 on Children of Farmworkers
Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers (MSAWs) are often exposed to hazardous working conditions, long hours, extreme heat, and the physical demands of the work which can be tiresome. As more than 80% of MSAWs in the U.S. are Latino/Hispanic, MSAW communities are also more likely to experience certain chronic conditions that disproportionately impact Latino/Hispanic populations, like type II diabetes.
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Diabetes Across the Lifespan
Hispanic Americans include a diverse group of cultures, each with their traditions and dietary lifestyles, making them more prone to Diabetes. Diabetes is most prevalent among the Latino/Hispanic communities due to poor general health. Poor general health can be associated with the individual's cultural values, level of education, social support systems, and sedentary behaviors. “Over their lifetime, U.S. adults have a 40 percent chance of developing type 2 diabetes,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states. “But if you’re a Hispanic/Latino American adult, your chance is more than 50 percent, and you’re likely to develop it at a younger age.”
Facilitating Healthy Eating for the Whole Family
One of the most important strategies for diabetes management and improvement is through maintaining a healthy diet. Combined with physical activity, this can be the pathway to controlling this disease and improving health outcomes. Good nutrition is not only important for individuals currently diagnosed with diabetes, but it can be vital for preventing the disease, especially for those who may be predisposed to it, such as family members.
Managing Diabetes During the Pandemic: CHWs Adapt to Better Support Migrant Farmworkers
Migrant farmworkers are essential workers who disproportionately come from Central America and Mexico. This community experiences unique challenges that limit their access to healthcare, such as isolated agricultural work environments, poor living conditions, language and cultural barriers, or immigration status. These barriers place migrant farmworker communities at higher risk for health complications and/or poor health outcomes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
