An Exploratory Pilot Study of Childhood Injuries on Cattle Farms in Jalisco, Mexico

ABSTRACT

Childhood agricultural injuries have been a concern in the United States for many years. Much research has been performed on the cause and prevention of such injuries. The North American Guidelines for Children's Agricultural Tasks (NAGCAT) have been developed in the United States to address the common agricultural tasks and injuries sustained by children. Data are lacking concerning the common agricultural tasks and injuries of children working on Mexican farms. The goal of the study was to determine if the NAGCAT guidelines developed for the United States may be applicable to children in Jalisco, Mexico. Interviews of local physicians were performed regarding their perception of common childhood agricultural injuries. Interviews about common childhood agricultural tasks and injuries were performed at 27 farms through the help of a local cooperative. Work practices at these farms were also observed. Emergency department records were reviewed for childhood agricultural injuries. Surveys of local cattle farms revealed the most common childhood agricultural tasks were feeding animals, milking cows, and cleaning corrals. Through the same cattle farm interviews, the most common childhood agricultural injuries included being kicked by an animal, scorpion bites, cuts, and falls. Physician interviews revealed machinery, poisonings, cuts, and lacerations as the most common injuries. Due to the lack of adequate documentation, the emergency department medical record review was not useful. The NAGCAT guidelines address many of the common tasks and injuries in the Tepatitlán area, including animal care, operating machinery, and cleaning corrals. There are other common injuries in the Tepatitlán area such as scorpion bites for which no NAGCAT guidelines currently exist but for which guidelines could be developed. Once translated to Spanish and adjusted for cultural relevancy, the NAGCAT guidelines would address many of the common agricultural tasks and injuries of children in Jalisco, Mexico.

Keywords:

• Agriculture
• children
• injury
• Mexico

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the members and staff at the PROLEA cooperative, who were extremely generous and cooperative throughout the project, especially Jesús Ramírez González, Lupita, Fernando, and Gerardo. Without the generosity of the PROLEA administration and the farmers none of this would have been possible. The authors also extend gratitude to the faculty at CUALTOS, who provided guidance throughout the project, especially Edgardo Ortiz, Mari Diaz Robles, and Hugo Moreno. The authors would also like to thank the many physicians and medical staff in Tepatitlán and the surrounding area who welcomed them into their clinics and hospitals and shared their experiences. Finally, the authors would like to thank Marshfield Clinic, Lori DiPrete Brown of the UW Center for Global Health, and Dr. Byron Crouse of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health for their guidance and for making this project possible. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) grant (U 50 OH008107), through the National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety, was a partial source of funding for this project.