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Occupational and off-work recovery predictors of heat-related illness among farmworkers in California: Insights including gender-related differences

Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Farmworkers in the United States are exposed to extreme heat and demanding physical labor, placing them at increased risk for heat-related illnesses (HRI). This study examined individual, occupational, and household factors associated with self-reported HRI among men and women farmworkers in Imperial Valley, California. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used a convenience and snowball sampling approach to recruit agricultural workers through a local community organization. Participants were administered an in-person interview on their experience with HRI and potential risk factors. A multivariate regression analysis was conducted to identify variables related to HRI. RESULTS: From 300 participants, 119 (39.7%) experienced HRI, defined as reporting at least three HRI symptoms. In the multivariate regression analysis, HRI odds were significantly increased in women (aOR: 2.36, 95%CI: 1.35-4.15), in those reporting heat-related sleep problems (aOR: 3.25, 95%CI: 1.50-7.02), face covering use (aOR: 1.94, 95%CI: 1.09-3.45) and those working more than 5 days per week (aOR: 2.19, 95%CI: 1.23-3.91). Older age had a modest association with lower odds of HRI (aOR: 0.98, 95%CI: 0.96-0.99) and more than one break per day (aOR: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.35-1.00, p = 0.053) was associated with marginally lower HRI odds. CONCLUSIONS: As climate change continues to intensify occupational heat exposure among agricultural workers, interventions should extend beyond purely workplace-focused efforts and address cumulative exposure, non-occupational factors and structural constraints. Report of heat-related sleep problems has been associated with HRI relatively recently. Future research should establish the occupational, structural, and biological pathways contributing to the increased HRI odds for women farmworkers.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2026.114885
Authors: Lena van Selm, Haley Ciborowski, Rietta Wagoner, Brandon Toji-Ruiz, Michelle Solorio, Briana Toji, Ana Solorio, Trent Biggs, Penelope J.E. Quintana, Linda Lara-Jacobo, Nicolas Lopez-Galvez
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,800
Funders: University of California, Centres de Recerca de Catalunya, NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies, Generalitat de Catalunya, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of the President, University of California, Agencia Estatal de Investigación
Awards: G1175115578, G2064873908, G2262748287, G2462415295, G2819494518, G3005324705, G300979063, G34346518, G3480869486, G3546882995, G3827801342, G3906013151, G425668148, G4526231891, G462627776, G5080475149, G630635040, G6656126374, G69051668, Implementing an intervention to reduce heat stress and chemical exposures, G7084143925, G79762045, G8637226926, G877788824, Rural heat islands: Mapping and mitigating farmworker exposure to heat stress
OpenAlex ID: W7196945716
FWCI:
Cites: 36
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Related to: 10