Date of Conferral
2019
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Health Services
Advisor
JaMuir Robinson
Abstract
There are over 3 million seasonal and migrant farmworkers in the U.S. agricultural industry with a significant percentage of farmworkers documented or native to the United States. Migrant farmworkers live below the federal poverty levels at high rates and experience low health care access and utilization. Guided by the fundamental cause theory, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of migrant farmworkers and identify the factors impacting their health care access and utilization. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 12 migrant farmworkers who had worked in Southwest Texas agricultural stream. Data were analyzed and coded to identify themes. Findings indicated that although lack of health insurance was a decisive factor in whether migrant farmworkers accessed or utilized health care services, distance to services, inflexible working hours, and cultural factors related to seeking care also influenced participants' lack of access to and utilization of health care services. Results may be used to aid local, state, and federal agencies in assisting migrant farmworkers in bridging the gap in health care and obtaining needed services.
Recommended Citation
Kelly, Melinda R., "Factors Affecting Health Care Access and Utilization Among U.S. Migrant Farmworkers" (2019). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 6592.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/6592
