Research Article
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A Macro Level Social Work Practice; Health Promotion Program for Improving the Health Status of Seasonal Agricultural Workers in Turkey

Year 2019, Volume: 2 Issue: 2, 110 - 124, 31.12.2019

Abstract

The agriculture, which is the
second largest sector of employment in the world and Turkey, will maintain its
importance due to the food supply and provision of input to industry. The majority labour force of sector meets the seasonal
agricultural workers (SAWs). Maternal-infant and general mortality and
morbidity rates were at least 3.5 times higher in
MSFWs than in general population of Turkey due to lack of
access public health services. We developed a macro level social work
intervention including planning and policy, community capacity development and
social advocacy strategies to decrease health inequalities named Health
Promotion Project of Seasonal Agricultural Workers (HPPSAWs)
by using an
operational epidemiological design with the objectives of (1) determining the
health status and predictors of ill health in designing appropriate
interventions, (2) developing new mechanism for access to public health
services, and 3) integration of proven interventions into the system to protect
right to life of SAWs.

Supporting Institution

Birleşmiş Milletler Nüfus Fonu

Thanks

I would like to express our special thanks and gratitude to the UNFPA and Turkey Ministry of Health Public Health Services General Directorate, Southeastern Anatolia Project Regional Development Administration, all academicians and trainers, representatives of government agencies and non-governmental organizations, and seasonal agricultural workers for their support and participation in this operational research. We owe a special dept of gratitude to our project assistant Gözde Yaşar, my public health doctors, and students whose untiring efforts and devotion made possible the successful implementation of the survey.

References

  • Arcury, T. A., & Quandt, S. A. (2007). Delivery of health services to migrant and seasonal farm workers. Annual Review of Public Health, 28, 345–363.
  • Belcher, J. R., & Tice, C. (2013). Power and social work: A change in direction. Journal of Progressive Human Services, 24, 81–93.
  • Berkman, L.F. & Kawachi, I. (2000). Social Epidemiology. Oxford University Pres, New York.
  • Caputi, M.A. (1978). Social work in health care; past and future. Health Soc Work, 3:1, 8-29.
  • Donham, K. J., & Thelin, A. (2006). Agricultural medicine: Occupational and environmental health for the health professions. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Goldberg, R. L., & Janssen, S. (2006). Reproductive hazards. In J. E. Lessenger (Ed.), Agricultural medicine: A practical guide (pp. 450–492). New York, NY: Springer.
  • Hansen, E., & Donohoe, M. (2003). Health issues of migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 14, 153–164.
  • Hurst, P., Termine, P., & Karl, M. (2005). Agricultural workers and their contribution to sustainable agriculture and rural development. International Labour Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Union of Food,Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations. Retrieved from ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/008/af164e/af164e00.pdfInternational Labor Office. (2004). Towards a fair deal for migrant workers in the global economy. Geneva, Switzerland.
  • International Labour Organization. (2013). Global Employment Trends 2013; Recovering from a second jobs dip. http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---dcomm/---publ/documents/publication/wcms_202326.pdf /Accessed 17 May 2018).
  • Kayı, I., Simsek, Z., Celik K. & Yildirimkaya, G. (2017). An inter-sectoral approach to improve health status of migrant and seasonal farm workers in Turkey. European Journal of Public Health, Volume 27, Issue suppl_3, 1 November 2017 (ckx186.099).
  • Lambert, M. I. (1995). Migrant and seasonal farm worker women. Journal of Obstetric and Neonatal Nursing, 24, 265–268.
  • Lewin, S., Munabi-Babigumira, S., Glenton, C., Daniels, K., Bosch-Capblanch, X., van Wyk, B.E., Odgaard-Jensen, J., Johansen, M., Aja, G.N., Zwarenstein, M., Scheel, I.N. (2010). Lay Health workers in primary and community Health care for maternal and child Health and the management of infectious diseases. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 3. Art No: CD004015. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004015.
  • Lerro, C.C., Koutros, S., Andreotti, G., Friesen, M.C., Alavanja, M.C., Blair A. et al. (2015). Organophosphate insecticide use and cancer incidence among spouses of pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study. Occup Environ Med, 72:736–744.
  • Martin, P.L. (2016). Migrant workers in commercial agriculture. International Labour Office, Sectoral Policies Department, Conditions of Work and Equality Department. Geneva.
  • National Association of Social Workers. (2015). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Retrieved from https://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp
  • O’Brien, M. (2010). Social justice: Alive and well (partly) in social work practice? International Social Work, 54(2), 174–190.
  • Priyadarshi, A., Khuder S.A., Schaub E.A., Shrivastaba S. (2000). A Meta-Analysis of Parkinson's Disease and Exposure to Pesticides. Neurotoxicology, 21: 435–440.
  • Rothman, J. (2007). Multi Modes of Intervention at the Macro Level. Journal of Community Practice, 15:4, 11-40, DOI: 10.1300/J125v15n04_02.Ruth, B.J., & Marshall, J.W. (2017). A History of Social Work in Public Health. Am J Public Health, 107(Suppl 3), 236–242.
  • Stallones, L. & Beseler, C.L. (2016). Assessing the Connection Between Organophosphate Pesticide Poisoning and Mental Health: A Comparison of Neuropsychological Symptoms From Clinical Observations, Animal Models and Epidemiological studies. Cortex, 74:405-416.
  • Şimşek, Z., & Koruk, İ. (2011). The effects of migratory seasonal farm work on psychomotor development and growth among children ages 0–5 years in Southeastern Anatolia. Turkish Journal of Public Health, 9, 157–165.
  • Şimşek, Z., Koruk, İ., & Doni, N. Y. (2012). An operational study on implementation of mobile primary healthcare services for seasonal migratory farmworkers, Turkey. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 16, 1906–1912.
  • Şimsek, Z., Okten, S., Yıldırımkaya, G., Kara, B., & Ercetin, G. (2015). A call to action: Overcoming health inequality; comparative health indicators and service needs of seasonal agricultural migratory families in Turkey. The Turkish Journal of Occupational / Environmental Medicine and Safety, 1(2), 35-55.
  • Şimşek, Z., Kara, B., Ersin, F., Ökten, Ş. & Yıldırımkaya, G. (2016). Prevalence of violence: male and female seasonal agricultural workers' approach to violence in Turkey. Soc Work Public Health, 31(7), 626-637.
  • Şimşek, Z., Keklik, A.Z., Demir, C., & Münir, K.M. (2017). Prevalence and predictors of mental health among farmworkers in Southeastern Anatolia of Turkey. International Journal of Environmental and Agriculture Research, 3(1), 21-29.
  • Şimşek, Z., Güler, M.N., Ersin, F., Gözükara, F., Kara, B., Erçetin, G., Demir, C., Hamidanoğlu, M., Akpirinç, S., Kayı, İ., & Yıldırımkaya, G. (2013). Mevsimlik tarım işçilerinin sağlığını geliştirme programı; din görevlisi eğitimleri ve değerlendirilmesi (Program to improve the health of seasonal agricultural workers; religious officer training and evaluation). 16. Ulusal Halk Sağlığı Kongre Kitabı, (National XVI. Public Health Congress) (pp:182), 27-31 October 2013, Antalya. http://halksagligiokulu.org/anasayfa/components/com_booklibrary/ebooks/16.UHSK%20Kitap.pdf
  • Şimşek, Z., Kara, K., Erçetin, G., Yıldırımkaya, G., Erdem, Ö., Akbaba, M., Ertem, M., & Mıhçıokur, S. (2013). Mevsimlik tarım işçilerinin sağlığını geliştirme programı; TSM Eğitimi ve Program Değerlendirmesi (Program to improve the health of seasonal agricultural workers; Community Health Center training program and evaluation). 16. Ulusal Halk Sağlığı Kongre Kitabı (National XVI. Public Health Congress), (pp:381), 27-31 October 2013, Antalya. (Access: http://halksagligiokulu.org/anasayfa/components/com_booklibrary/ebooks/16.UHSK%20Kitap.pdf
  • Şimşek, Z., & Çelik, K. (2016). Mevsimlik Tarım İşçilerinin ve Ailelerinin Sağlığını Geliştirme Projesi; Faaliyetler ve Değerlendirme Sonuçları (Project for Improving the Health of Seasonal Agricultural Workers and Their Families; Activities and Evaluation Results) Harran University Research and Application Center for Occupational Safety and Health In Agriculture Publication, Baskı Printing, Ankara. (In Turkish).
  • Sağlık Temalı Okuma Yazma Öğretimi. (Health-based literacy teaching). (Program Coordinator: Şimşek, Z.) Baskı Printing, July 2016, Ankara. http://www.gap.gov.tr/upload/dosyalar/pdfler/saglik_temali_okuma_yazma2.pdf
  • Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (Grand National Assembly of Turkey). Mevsimlik Tarım İşçilerinin Sorunlarının Araştırılarak Alınması Gereken Önlemlerin Belirlenmesi Amacıyla Kurulan Meclis Araştırması Komisyonu Raporu (Report of the Parliamentary Investigation Commission established for the purpose of determining the precautions to be taken by exploring the problems of seasonal agricultural workers). Issue Number: 716; Legislative Period: 24; Legislative Year 5; March 2015 (In Turkish).
  • Yentür, D.N., Simsek, Z., Keklik, Z., Gurses, G., & Zeyrek, F.Y. (2014). Epidemiology of hepatitis B in the reproductive-age female farmworkers of southeastern Turkey. Hepat Montly, 23, 14(11).
  • Yentür, D. N., Simsek, Z., Gurses, G., Yildiz, Z.F., & Demir, C. (2015). Prevalence and associated risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii in female farmworkers of southeastern Turkey. J Infect Dev Ctries, 5, 9(1), 87-93.
  • Yentur, D.N., Gurses, G., Simsek, Z., Yildiz, Z.F. & Yaşar, G. (2017a). Investigation of brucellosis in a female agricultural population in Turkey. Tropical Doctor, 47(2), 132-136.
  • Yentür, D.N., Şimşek, Z., Gürses, G., Yıldız, Z.F. & Akbaba, M. (2017b). The knowledge and high seroprevalence of hepatitis A in a high-risk group (agricultural reproductive-aged women) in the southeastern region of Turkey. Turk J Med Sci, 3;47(4), 1055-1060.
Year 2019, Volume: 2 Issue: 2, 110 - 124, 31.12.2019

Abstract

References

  • Arcury, T. A., & Quandt, S. A. (2007). Delivery of health services to migrant and seasonal farm workers. Annual Review of Public Health, 28, 345–363.
  • Belcher, J. R., & Tice, C. (2013). Power and social work: A change in direction. Journal of Progressive Human Services, 24, 81–93.
  • Berkman, L.F. & Kawachi, I. (2000). Social Epidemiology. Oxford University Pres, New York.
  • Caputi, M.A. (1978). Social work in health care; past and future. Health Soc Work, 3:1, 8-29.
  • Donham, K. J., & Thelin, A. (2006). Agricultural medicine: Occupational and environmental health for the health professions. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Goldberg, R. L., & Janssen, S. (2006). Reproductive hazards. In J. E. Lessenger (Ed.), Agricultural medicine: A practical guide (pp. 450–492). New York, NY: Springer.
  • Hansen, E., & Donohoe, M. (2003). Health issues of migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 14, 153–164.
  • Hurst, P., Termine, P., & Karl, M. (2005). Agricultural workers and their contribution to sustainable agriculture and rural development. International Labour Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Union of Food,Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations. Retrieved from ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/008/af164e/af164e00.pdfInternational Labor Office. (2004). Towards a fair deal for migrant workers in the global economy. Geneva, Switzerland.
  • International Labour Organization. (2013). Global Employment Trends 2013; Recovering from a second jobs dip. http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---dcomm/---publ/documents/publication/wcms_202326.pdf /Accessed 17 May 2018).
  • Kayı, I., Simsek, Z., Celik K. & Yildirimkaya, G. (2017). An inter-sectoral approach to improve health status of migrant and seasonal farm workers in Turkey. European Journal of Public Health, Volume 27, Issue suppl_3, 1 November 2017 (ckx186.099).
  • Lambert, M. I. (1995). Migrant and seasonal farm worker women. Journal of Obstetric and Neonatal Nursing, 24, 265–268.
  • Lewin, S., Munabi-Babigumira, S., Glenton, C., Daniels, K., Bosch-Capblanch, X., van Wyk, B.E., Odgaard-Jensen, J., Johansen, M., Aja, G.N., Zwarenstein, M., Scheel, I.N. (2010). Lay Health workers in primary and community Health care for maternal and child Health and the management of infectious diseases. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 3. Art No: CD004015. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004015.
  • Lerro, C.C., Koutros, S., Andreotti, G., Friesen, M.C., Alavanja, M.C., Blair A. et al. (2015). Organophosphate insecticide use and cancer incidence among spouses of pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study. Occup Environ Med, 72:736–744.
  • Martin, P.L. (2016). Migrant workers in commercial agriculture. International Labour Office, Sectoral Policies Department, Conditions of Work and Equality Department. Geneva.
  • National Association of Social Workers. (2015). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Retrieved from https://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp
  • O’Brien, M. (2010). Social justice: Alive and well (partly) in social work practice? International Social Work, 54(2), 174–190.
  • Priyadarshi, A., Khuder S.A., Schaub E.A., Shrivastaba S. (2000). A Meta-Analysis of Parkinson's Disease and Exposure to Pesticides. Neurotoxicology, 21: 435–440.
  • Rothman, J. (2007). Multi Modes of Intervention at the Macro Level. Journal of Community Practice, 15:4, 11-40, DOI: 10.1300/J125v15n04_02.Ruth, B.J., & Marshall, J.W. (2017). A History of Social Work in Public Health. Am J Public Health, 107(Suppl 3), 236–242.
  • Stallones, L. & Beseler, C.L. (2016). Assessing the Connection Between Organophosphate Pesticide Poisoning and Mental Health: A Comparison of Neuropsychological Symptoms From Clinical Observations, Animal Models and Epidemiological studies. Cortex, 74:405-416.
  • Şimşek, Z., & Koruk, İ. (2011). The effects of migratory seasonal farm work on psychomotor development and growth among children ages 0–5 years in Southeastern Anatolia. Turkish Journal of Public Health, 9, 157–165.
  • Şimşek, Z., Koruk, İ., & Doni, N. Y. (2012). An operational study on implementation of mobile primary healthcare services for seasonal migratory farmworkers, Turkey. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 16, 1906–1912.
  • Şimsek, Z., Okten, S., Yıldırımkaya, G., Kara, B., & Ercetin, G. (2015). A call to action: Overcoming health inequality; comparative health indicators and service needs of seasonal agricultural migratory families in Turkey. The Turkish Journal of Occupational / Environmental Medicine and Safety, 1(2), 35-55.
  • Şimşek, Z., Kara, B., Ersin, F., Ökten, Ş. & Yıldırımkaya, G. (2016). Prevalence of violence: male and female seasonal agricultural workers' approach to violence in Turkey. Soc Work Public Health, 31(7), 626-637.
  • Şimşek, Z., Keklik, A.Z., Demir, C., & Münir, K.M. (2017). Prevalence and predictors of mental health among farmworkers in Southeastern Anatolia of Turkey. International Journal of Environmental and Agriculture Research, 3(1), 21-29.
  • Şimşek, Z., Güler, M.N., Ersin, F., Gözükara, F., Kara, B., Erçetin, G., Demir, C., Hamidanoğlu, M., Akpirinç, S., Kayı, İ., & Yıldırımkaya, G. (2013). Mevsimlik tarım işçilerinin sağlığını geliştirme programı; din görevlisi eğitimleri ve değerlendirilmesi (Program to improve the health of seasonal agricultural workers; religious officer training and evaluation). 16. Ulusal Halk Sağlığı Kongre Kitabı, (National XVI. Public Health Congress) (pp:182), 27-31 October 2013, Antalya. http://halksagligiokulu.org/anasayfa/components/com_booklibrary/ebooks/16.UHSK%20Kitap.pdf
  • Şimşek, Z., Kara, K., Erçetin, G., Yıldırımkaya, G., Erdem, Ö., Akbaba, M., Ertem, M., & Mıhçıokur, S. (2013). Mevsimlik tarım işçilerinin sağlığını geliştirme programı; TSM Eğitimi ve Program Değerlendirmesi (Program to improve the health of seasonal agricultural workers; Community Health Center training program and evaluation). 16. Ulusal Halk Sağlığı Kongre Kitabı (National XVI. Public Health Congress), (pp:381), 27-31 October 2013, Antalya. (Access: http://halksagligiokulu.org/anasayfa/components/com_booklibrary/ebooks/16.UHSK%20Kitap.pdf
  • Şimşek, Z., & Çelik, K. (2016). Mevsimlik Tarım İşçilerinin ve Ailelerinin Sağlığını Geliştirme Projesi; Faaliyetler ve Değerlendirme Sonuçları (Project for Improving the Health of Seasonal Agricultural Workers and Their Families; Activities and Evaluation Results) Harran University Research and Application Center for Occupational Safety and Health In Agriculture Publication, Baskı Printing, Ankara. (In Turkish).
  • Sağlık Temalı Okuma Yazma Öğretimi. (Health-based literacy teaching). (Program Coordinator: Şimşek, Z.) Baskı Printing, July 2016, Ankara. http://www.gap.gov.tr/upload/dosyalar/pdfler/saglik_temali_okuma_yazma2.pdf
  • Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (Grand National Assembly of Turkey). Mevsimlik Tarım İşçilerinin Sorunlarının Araştırılarak Alınması Gereken Önlemlerin Belirlenmesi Amacıyla Kurulan Meclis Araştırması Komisyonu Raporu (Report of the Parliamentary Investigation Commission established for the purpose of determining the precautions to be taken by exploring the problems of seasonal agricultural workers). Issue Number: 716; Legislative Period: 24; Legislative Year 5; March 2015 (In Turkish).
  • Yentür, D.N., Simsek, Z., Keklik, Z., Gurses, G., & Zeyrek, F.Y. (2014). Epidemiology of hepatitis B in the reproductive-age female farmworkers of southeastern Turkey. Hepat Montly, 23, 14(11).
  • Yentür, D. N., Simsek, Z., Gurses, G., Yildiz, Z.F., & Demir, C. (2015). Prevalence and associated risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii in female farmworkers of southeastern Turkey. J Infect Dev Ctries, 5, 9(1), 87-93.
  • Yentur, D.N., Gurses, G., Simsek, Z., Yildiz, Z.F. & Yaşar, G. (2017a). Investigation of brucellosis in a female agricultural population in Turkey. Tropical Doctor, 47(2), 132-136.
  • Yentür, D.N., Şimşek, Z., Gürses, G., Yıldız, Z.F. & Akbaba, M. (2017b). The knowledge and high seroprevalence of hepatitis A in a high-risk group (agricultural reproductive-aged women) in the southeastern region of Turkey. Turk J Med Sci, 3;47(4), 1055-1060.
There are 33 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Sociology (Other)
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Zeynep Şimşek 0000-0002-4572-7137

Publication Date December 31, 2019
Acceptance Date December 31, 2019
Published in Issue Year 2019 Volume: 2 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Şimşek, Z. (2019). A Macro Level Social Work Practice; Health Promotion Program for Improving the Health Status of Seasonal Agricultural Workers in Turkey. Turkish Journal of Applied Social Work, 2(2), 110-124.