A Socio-Ecological Model to Assess Tuberculosis in Migrant Farmworkers in the US-Mexico Border Region

The migrant and seasonal farmworker toiling in the fields and orchards of the United States of America surmounts innumerable problems daily. Some of these problems pertain to the overall health of the farmworker in addition to the various occupational hazards that he or she faces. This research paper focuses on Tuberculosis infection—both latent and active—in the migrant farmworkers in the United States with a special focus on the US-Mexico border. Using the Socio-Ecological Model as a theoretical framework, the TB health issues faced by this group are studied. The various determinants of health at every level of the Socio-Ecological Model are cogitated upon and culturally appropriate interventions are suggested. This research paper corroborates the fact that health issues facing mobile communities like migrant farmworkers require a synergistic approach by various stakeholders spanning the length and breadth of the Americas.