1
|
Lee KF, Nakphong MK, Young MEDT. The legacy of immigration policies and employment exclusion: Assessing the relationship between employment exclusions and immigrant health. SSM Popul Health 2024; 26:101676. [PMID: 38711566 PMCID: PMC11070755 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2024.101676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Restrictive federal and state immigration policies create conditions of employment exclusion that may negatively influence the health of immigrants. In particular, these policy effects are reflected in labor market and workplace experiences that determine the types of work and employment opportunities that immigrants are able to access and pursue. This study examines the relationship between both cumulative and individual measures of employment exclusion and self-rated health and psychological distress among Asian and Latino immigrants in California, and whether this relationship is modified by legal status. We used data from the Research on Immigrant Health and State Policy (RIGHTS) study (n = 2010). We used both multivariable logistic regression and linear regression models for our analyses. For cumulative models, labor market exclusion was associated with poor health (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.46). Workplace exclusion was also associated with poor self-rated health (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.15, 1.82) and increased psychological distress (β = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.31, 1.07). For individual measures of employment exclusion, settling for a job - a labor market exclusion - and working in a dangerous job and experiencing wage theft - workplace exclusions - were associated with poor health and increased psychological distress. There was no evidence that the association between employment exclusions and health varied by legal status. These findings demonstrate that the combined effect of employment exclusions is detrimental to immigrant health. To improve population health, public health researchers should continue to interrogate the policy conditions at the federal, state, and local level that exclude immigrants from employment opportunities and workplace protections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin F. Lee
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Division of Equity and Social Justice, County of Santa Clara, San Jose, CA, USA
| | - Michelle K. Nakphong
- Division of Prevention Science, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young
- Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Schulte PA, Jacklitsch BL, Bhattacharya A, Chun H, Edwards N, Elliott KC, Flynn MA, Guerin R, Hodson L, Lincoln JM, MacMahon KL, Pendergrass S, Siven J, Vietas J. Updated assessment of occupational safety and health hazards of climate change. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2023; 20:183-206. [PMID: 37104117 PMCID: PMC10443088 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2023.2205468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Workers, particularly outdoor workers, are among the populations most disproportionately affected by climate-related hazards. However, scientific research and control actions to comprehensively address these hazards are notably absent. To assess this absence, a seven-category framework was developed in 2009 to characterize the scientific literature published from 1988-2008. Using this framework, a second assessment examined the literature published through 2014, and the current one examines literature from 2014-2021. The objectives were to present literature that updates the framework and related topics and increases awareness of the role of climate change in occupational safety and health. In general, there is substantial literature on worker hazards related to ambient temperatures, biological hazards, and extreme weather but less on air pollution, ultraviolet radiation, industrial transitions, and the built environment. There is growing literature on mental health and health equity issues related to climate change, but much more research is needed. The socioeconomic impacts of climate change also require more research. This study illustrates that workers are experiencing increased morbidity and mortality related to climate change. In all areas of climate-related worker risk, including geoengineering, research is needed on the causality and prevalence of hazards, along with surveillance to identify, and interventions for hazard prevention and control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P. A. Schulte
- Advanced Technologies and Laboratories International, Inc, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - B. L. Jacklitsch
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - A. Bhattacharya
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - H. Chun
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Atlanta, Georgia
| | - N. Edwards
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - K. C. Elliott
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Anchorage, Alaska
| | - M. A. Flynn
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - R. Guerin
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - L. Hodson
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (retired), Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - J. M. Lincoln
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - K. L. MacMahon
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - S. Pendergrass
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (retired), Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - J. Siven
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - J. Vietas
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
The impact of paid sick leave mandates on Women's health. Soc Sci Med 2023; 323:115839. [PMID: 36989657 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
The United States does not have a national program to provide job-protected paid leave to workers when they or a family member are ill or need to seek medical care. Many workers receive paid sick leave through their employers, but women, particularly parents, those without a college degree, and Latinas, are less likely than their counterparts to receive employer-provided paid sick leave (PSL). To address the shortfall in PSL coverage, several states and localities have passed laws mandating employers to provide PSL. I examine the impacts of three recent state-level paid sick leave policies on women's self-reported health using data from the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System. Using static and event-study difference-in-differences models, I find that PSL mandates decreased the proportion of women reporting fair or poor health by an average of 2.4 percentage points and reduced the number of days women reported their physical and mental health was not good by 0.68 days and 0.43 days in the past 30 days respectively. Effects were concentrated among parents, women without college degrees, and women of color. This study demonstrates that despite being a low-intensity policy, PSL improves women's health and well-being and that mandating workplace benefits may play a role in achieving health equity.
Collapse
|
4
|
Ceryes CA, Agnew J, Wirtz AL, Barnett DJ, Neff RA. Exploring U.S. Food System Workers' Intentions to Work While Ill during the Early COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Survey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1638. [PMID: 36674406 PMCID: PMC9865134 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
With "stay at home" orders in effect during early COVID-19, many United States (U.S.) food system workers attended in-person work to maintain national food supply chain operations. Anecdotally, many encountered barriers to staying home despite symptomatic COVID-19 illness. We conducted a national, cross-sectional, online survey between 31 July and 2 October 2020 among 2535 respondents. Using multivariable regression and free-text analyses, we investigated factors associated with workers' intentions to attend work while ill (i.e., presenteeism intentions) during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, 8.8% of respondents intended to attend work with COVID-19 disease symptoms. Almost half (41.1%) reported low or very low household food security. Workers reporting a higher workplace safety climate score were half as likely to report presenteeism intentions (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.37, 0.75) relative to those reporting lower scores. Workers reporting low (aOR 2.06, 95% CI 1.35, 3.13) or very low (aOR 2.31, 95% CI 1.50, 3.13) household food security levels had twice the odds of reporting presenteeism intentions relative to those reporting high/marginal food security. Workplace culture and safety climate could enable employees to feel like they can take leave when sick during a pandemic, which is critical to maintaining individual and workplace health. We stress the need for strategies which address vulnerabilities and empower food workers to make health-protective decisions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin A. Ceryes
- Department of Health Sciences, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252, USA
| | - Jacqueline Agnew
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Andrea L. Wirtz
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Daniel J. Barnett
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Roni A. Neff
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, 111 Market St., Ste. 840, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lyttelton T, Zang E. Occupations and Sickness-Related Absences during the COVID-19 Pandemic. JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR 2022. [PMID: 35100514 DOI: 10.1177/002214652110536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Pandemic frontline occupations consist of disproportionately low socioeconomic status and racial minority workers. Documenting occupational health disparities is therefore crucial for understanding COVID-19-related health inequalities in the United States. This study uses Current Population Survey microdata to estimate occupational differences in sickness-related absences (SAs) from work in March through June 2020 and their contribution to educational, racial-ethnic, and nativity health disparities. We find that there has been an unprecedented rise in SAs concentrated in transportation, food-related, and personal care and service occupations. SA rates were 6 times higher in these occupations than in non-health-care professions. The greatest increases were in occupations that are unsuitable for remote work, require workers to work close to others, pay low wages, and rarely provide health insurance. Workers in these occupations are disproportionately Black, Hispanic, indigenous, and immigrants. Occupation contributes 41% of the total of Black/white differences and 54% of educational differences in SAs.
Collapse
|
6
|
Lyttelton T, Zang E. Occupations and Sickness-Related Absences during the COVID-19 Pandemic. JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR 2022; 63:19-36. [PMID: 35100514 PMCID: PMC9013443 DOI: 10.1177/00221465211053615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Pandemic frontline occupations consist of disproportionately low socioeconomic status and racial minority workers. Documenting occupational health disparities is therefore crucial for understanding COVID-19-related health inequalities in the United States. This study uses Current Population Survey microdata to estimate occupational differences in sickness-related absences (SAs) from work in March through June 2020 and their contribution to educational, racial-ethnic, and nativity health disparities. We find that there has been an unprecedented rise in SAs concentrated in transportation, food-related, and personal care and service occupations. SA rates were 6 times higher in these occupations than in non-health-care professions. The greatest increases were in occupations that are unsuitable for remote work, require workers to work close to others, pay low wages, and rarely provide health insurance. Workers in these occupations are disproportionately Black, Hispanic, indigenous, and immigrants. Occupation contributes 41% of the total of Black/white differences and 54% of educational differences in SAs.
Collapse
|
7
|
Aktas E, Bergbom B, Godderis L, Kreshpaj B, Marinov M, Mates D, McElvenny DM, Mehlum IS, Milenkova V, Nena E, Glass DC. Migrant workers occupational health research: an OMEGA-NET working group position paper. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2021; 95:765-777. [PMID: 34661721 PMCID: PMC8521506 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-021-01803-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Objective The aims of the study were: (1) to clarify the definitions of “migrant” used in occupational health research; (2) to summarize migrant workers’ industry sectors, occupations and employment conditions; (3) to identify the occupational health and safety services available to migrant workers; (4) to summarize work-related health problems found among migrant workers; (5) to identify the methodological challenges to research into occupational health of migrant workers; and (6) to recommend improvements in migrant occupational health research. Methods This position paper was prepared by researchers from several European countries and Australia, working within the EU COST Action OMEGA-NET. The paper drew on two recent systematic reviews on the occupational health of international migrant workers and other literature, and also identified uncertainties and gaps in the research literature. Migrants may, for example, be temporary or permanent, moving for specific jobs migrants or other reasons. Their ethnicity and language capabilities will affect their work opportunities. Results The occupational health literature seldom adequately identifies the heterogeneity or characteristics of the migrant group being studied. Migrants tend to work in more physically and mentally demanding environments with higher exposures than native workers. Migrants tend to have an increased risk of physical and mental ill health, but less access to health care services. This has been demonstrated recently by high rates of COVID-19 and less access to health care. There have been a number of cross-sectional studies of migrant health but few long-term cohort studies were identified. Other study designs, such as registry-based studies, surveys and qualitative studies may complement cross-sectional studies. Mixed-methodology studies would be valuable in research on migrants’ occupational health. Language and lack of trust are barriers to migrant research participation. Conclusion Targeted research, especially longitudinal, identifying how these economically important but often-vulnerable workers can be best assisted is needed. Researchers should identify the characteristics of the migrant workers that they are studying including visa/migration circumstances (temporary, permanent, undocumented), racial and ethnic characteristics, existing skills and language abilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emine Aktas
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Department of Public Health Nursing, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey.,Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment & Health, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Lode Godderis
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment & Health, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,External Service for Prevention and Protection at Work, IDEWE, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Bertina Kreshpaj
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Mario Marinov
- South-West University "Neofit Rilski", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
| | - Dana Mates
- The National Institute of Public Health, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Damien M McElvenny
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, UK.,University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum
- National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Evangelia Nena
- Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Deborah C Glass
- MonCOEH, Monash University, 553 ST Kilda Road, Melbourne, 3004, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
Migrants are mainly employed in “3D jobs” which are dirty, dangerous, and difficult, are characterized by monotony and intense rhythms, and are found in sectors with higher risks such as construction, heavy industry, and agriculture. The aim of this study is to construct a systematic review in order to identify the main occupational risks and occupational diseases of this category. Research included articles published from 2013 to 2018 on major online databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus), which were obtained using a combination of keywords (migrant workers, expatriates, physical health, diseases, illnesses, travel, travelers, work, and occupational medicine). The online search included 1109 references. We excluded 977 studies because they were unrelated to physical health and another 64 due to duplication. There were 68 articles which were analyzed, including six reviews and 62 original articles. The main risks which emerged are developing infectious diseases, metabolic cardiovascular diseases and manifesting a lower quality of life, in particular due to difficulties in accessing local health services. It will be crucial to implement the role of occupational medicine in order to introduce multilevel interventions designed to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses, and to promote healthier working environments.
Collapse
|
9
|
Mitro SD, Chu MT, Dodson RE, Adamkiewicz G, Chie L, Brown FM, James-Todd TM. Phthalate metabolite exposures among immigrants living in the United States: findings from NHANES, 1999-2014. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2019; 29:71-82. [PMID: 29572484 PMCID: PMC6151301 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-018-0029-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Revised: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Phthalates exposure has been linked to multiple health risks, and US immigrants may have different exposures to phthalates due to lifestyle differences. Urinary concentrations of eight phthalate metabolites (mono-ethyl phthalate [MEP], mono-n-butyl phthalate [MnBP], mono-isobutyl phthalate [MiBP], mono-(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate [MCPP], mono-benzyl phthalate [MBzP], mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate [MEHP], mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate [MEHHP], mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate [MEOHP]) were measured in 10318 US-born and 3511 foreign-born individuals from NHANES 1999-2014. Using multivariate adjusted linear regression, we assessed whether phthalate metabolite levels differed by nativity in the whole population, within racial/ethnic groups, and by years in the US. We also tested whether immigrant demographics predicted phthalate metabolite levels. In fully adjusted models, MEP, MnBP, and MiBP were significantly higher, and MBzP significantly lower, among immigrants than US-born participants. Among immigrants, MnBP and MiBP significantly declined with longer time in the US (Ptrend = 0.029 and Ptrend = 0.039, respectively), while MCPP and MBzP significantly rose (Ptrend = 0.019 and Ptrend = 0.043, respectively). Results within each racial/ethnic group were consistent with the whole population. Among immigrants, women had significantly higher metabolite levels than men (all p < 0.01), and MEP, MnBP, and MCPP differed by race/ethnicity. Due to higher phthalate exposures, immigrants may be especially vulnerable to phthalate-associated health problems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susanna D Mitro
- Population Health Sciences Program, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - MyDzung T Chu
- Population Health Sciences Program, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Gary Adamkiewicz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lucy Chie
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Florence M Brown
- Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tamarra M James-Todd
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|