Cohort study of physical activity and injury among Latino farm workers.

IntroductionThis study characterized physical activity and its association with injury among Latino farm workers. MethodsAn interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect baseline and follow-up data on 843 and 640 Latino farm workers, respectively. Participants were 18-55 years old, engaged in farm work and residing in Mendota, CA at baseline interview. The questionnaire assessed self-reported physical activity and risk of injury. ResultsThe 12 month prevalence of injury decreased from 9.0% at baseline to 6.9% at follow up interview. In GEE models adjusted for age, follow-up time, gender, smoking, income and years working in agriculture, poor/fair self-assessed health status (OR=1.82, 95% CI: 1.18-2.82) and 2-3hr per day of sitting/watching TV/using a computer (OR=0.50, 95% CI: 0.30-0.83) were significantly associated with injury. ConclusionsPhysical activity was not associated with injury in this population. Efforts to reduce injuries should focus on known risk factors such as poor health status. Am. J. Ind. Med. 58:737-745, 2015. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.