Abstract
P-506 METHODS USED TO DEVELOP A CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE STUDY PROTOCOL EXAMINING OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES AMONG SYRIAN REFUGEE AGRICULTURAL WORKERS
Occupational medicine (Oxford), Vol.74(Supplement_1)
07/05/2024
DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqae023.1266
Abstract
Abstract Introduction Refugees from war-torn neighboring Syria are often engaged in agricultural practices in Lebanon. Little is known about their multiple exposures to workplace hazards and psychosocial stressors. Our objective is to describe the methods used to develop a research protocol and tools that are culturally appropriate for this vulnerable population. Methods An iterative process was used to learn from stakeholders and intermediary organizations in Beqaa, Lebanon. Interviews and field observations identified work practices, exposures, and living conditions that directly impact the study design and assessment tools. Results Fifty stakeholders (employers, farm workers, NGOs, government officials) were interviewed or participated in focus group discussions. We learned that preventive spraying using a mixture of pesticides is common practice in greenhouses, where intensive frequent pesticide application occurs following a preset schedule that overlaps with harvest time. This puts at risk men who apply pesticides and women who harvest recently treated crops, without using personal protective equipment. Only Syrian refugees perform this hazardous work. Moreover, Syrian workers, who live in precarious conditions in nearby informal tented settlements, often experience discrimination and receive low pay without social protection. Discussion Our findings informed our decision to focus on Syrian refugee agricultural workers in greenhouses and adapt our assessment tools (exposure to pesticides, heat stress, and social stressors) and data collection plan (morning and afternoon shifts) to the specificities of greenhouse agricultural practices in Beqaa. Conclusion Although such preliminary work is crucial to develop culturally appropriate and feasible methods for evaluation of workplace exposures in high-risk populations, this information is seldom described.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- P-506 METHODS USED TO DEVELOP A CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE STUDY PROTOCOL EXAMINING OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES AMONG SYRIAN REFUGEE AGRICULTURAL WORKERS
- Creators
- Rima R Habib - American University of BeirutDiane S Rohlman - University of IowaLina Fakih - American University of BeirutChristina Estephan - American University of BeirutIman Nuwayhid - American University of Beirut
- Resource Type
- Abstract
- Publication Details
- Occupational medicine (Oxford), Vol.74(Supplement_1)
- DOI
- 10.1093/occmed/kqae023.1266
- ISSN
- 0962-7480
- eISSN
- 1471-8405
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/05/2024
- Academic Unit
- Public Health Administration; Occupational and Environmental Health; International Programs; Injury Prevention Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9984656633802771
Metrics
78 Record Views