Perilla JL, Wilson AH, Wold JL, Spencer L. Listening to migrant voices: focus groups on health issues in South Georgia. Journal of Community Health Nursing. 1998;15:251-263.
The authors note that unlike California, Florida, and Texas, Georgia provides limited services to its migrant workers and that most Georgians do not know that migrant workers live and work in their state. The authors had been part of teams of nurses providing well-child screenings and physical exams to children of migrant farm workers in south Georgia. This study was an effort to give the migrant workers a chance to express their health needs and concerns. The authors oversaw four focus groups with Mexican farm worker participants.
Three themes emerged from the content analysis of the focus groups. Health care issues was the most frequently identified theme. The main concern was the inadequacy of available services. People commonly mentioned the complete lack of dental and eye care services. On living and working conditions, everyone mentioned "tobacco illness," intoxication, and skin conditions connected with working in the tobacco fields. There was also discussion about social and community issues. One of the four focus groups was a woman-only group. During their discussion, women brought up concerns surrounding prostitution. They said white women prostitutes worked near the camps and threatened their families and their communities. All four groups raised the issues of racism and prejudice. Men and women told stories about encountering discrimination in medical facilities, grocery stores, shopping centers, restaurants, schools, and churches. In terms of needs, all four groups identified English classes as a top priority. Other top priorities include basic hygiene education, first aid education, information about legal issues, and education about pesticides.
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