Challenges faced by migrant seasonal agricultural farmworkers for food accessibility in Spain: A qualitative study

Migrants who work seasonally in agriculture face living and working conditions that significantly impact their health. Some of these conditions are related to inadequate food access or food preservation and preparation hygiene. This study aimed to explore how migrant and seasonal agricultural farmwo...

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Main Authors: Luis Alejandro Rodríguez-Guerrero, José Tomás Mateos, Iratxe Pérez-Urdiales, Mar Jiménez-Lasserrotte, Juan Agustín González, Erica Briones-Vozmediano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Global Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2024.2352570
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author Luis Alejandro Rodríguez-Guerrero
José Tomás Mateos
Iratxe Pérez-Urdiales
Mar Jiménez-Lasserrotte
Juan Agustín González
Erica Briones-Vozmediano
author_facet Luis Alejandro Rodríguez-Guerrero
José Tomás Mateos
Iratxe Pérez-Urdiales
Mar Jiménez-Lasserrotte
Juan Agustín González
Erica Briones-Vozmediano
author_sort Luis Alejandro Rodríguez-Guerrero
collection DOAJ
description Migrants who work seasonally in agriculture face living and working conditions that significantly impact their health. Some of these conditions are related to inadequate food access or food preservation and preparation hygiene. This study aimed to explore how migrant and seasonal agricultural farmworkers access food in Spain from the perspective of professionals supporting this population. We conducted a qualitative study in 2021 based on semistructured interviews with 92 social and health service professionals involved in the care of seasonal migrant workers in 4 Spanish provinces. We identified three themes through reflective thematic analysis: (1) Access to food depends on NGOs and institutions, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) Relevant cultural differences in diet depending on North African or sub-Saharan origin; (3) Seasonal migrant workers frequently suffer from nutritional and other health problems related to food security. The professionals interviewed described the diet of seasonal migrant workers as based on food with little variety, insufficient protein content, and obesogenic products. They also reported a generalized lack of hygiene in food storage and preparation. This study calls for encouraging dietary support strategies to reduce challenges in food accessibility, which would prevent health problems in this population and bring them social justice.
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spelling doaj-art-19f52efd92b043929ac09ef02caffa6a2025-08-20T02:19:53ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Public Health1744-16921744-17062024-12-0119110.1080/17441692.2024.2352570Challenges faced by migrant seasonal agricultural farmworkers for food accessibility in Spain: A qualitative studyLuis Alejandro Rodríguez-Guerrero0José Tomás Mateos1Iratxe Pérez-Urdiales2Mar Jiménez-Lasserrotte3Juan Agustín González4Erica Briones-Vozmediano5Health Care Research Group (GRECS), Biomedical Research Institute (IRB) Lleida Dr. Pifarre Foundation, Lleida, SpainHealth Care Research Group (GRECS), Biomedical Research Institute (IRB) Lleida Dr. Pifarre Foundation, Lleida, SpainDepartment of Nursing I, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Bizkaia, SpainDepartment of Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Medicine, University of Almería, Almería, SpainSocial and Educational Analysis Group (GRASE) of the Univeristy of Lleida, Lleida, SpainHealth Care Research Group (GRECS), Biomedical Research Institute (IRB) Lleida Dr. Pifarre Foundation, Lleida, SpainMigrants who work seasonally in agriculture face living and working conditions that significantly impact their health. Some of these conditions are related to inadequate food access or food preservation and preparation hygiene. This study aimed to explore how migrant and seasonal agricultural farmworkers access food in Spain from the perspective of professionals supporting this population. We conducted a qualitative study in 2021 based on semistructured interviews with 92 social and health service professionals involved in the care of seasonal migrant workers in 4 Spanish provinces. We identified three themes through reflective thematic analysis: (1) Access to food depends on NGOs and institutions, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) Relevant cultural differences in diet depending on North African or sub-Saharan origin; (3) Seasonal migrant workers frequently suffer from nutritional and other health problems related to food security. The professionals interviewed described the diet of seasonal migrant workers as based on food with little variety, insufficient protein content, and obesogenic products. They also reported a generalized lack of hygiene in food storage and preparation. This study calls for encouraging dietary support strategies to reduce challenges in food accessibility, which would prevent health problems in this population and bring them social justice.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2024.2352570Migrantsagricultural workersfood accessCOVID-19qualitative research
spellingShingle Luis Alejandro Rodríguez-Guerrero
José Tomás Mateos
Iratxe Pérez-Urdiales
Mar Jiménez-Lasserrotte
Juan Agustín González
Erica Briones-Vozmediano
Challenges faced by migrant seasonal agricultural farmworkers for food accessibility in Spain: A qualitative study
Global Public Health
Migrants
agricultural workers
food access
COVID-19
qualitative research
title Challenges faced by migrant seasonal agricultural farmworkers for food accessibility in Spain: A qualitative study
title_full Challenges faced by migrant seasonal agricultural farmworkers for food accessibility in Spain: A qualitative study
title_fullStr Challenges faced by migrant seasonal agricultural farmworkers for food accessibility in Spain: A qualitative study
title_full_unstemmed Challenges faced by migrant seasonal agricultural farmworkers for food accessibility in Spain: A qualitative study
title_short Challenges faced by migrant seasonal agricultural farmworkers for food accessibility in Spain: A qualitative study
title_sort challenges faced by migrant seasonal agricultural farmworkers for food accessibility in spain a qualitative study
topic Migrants
agricultural workers
food access
COVID-19
qualitative research
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2024.2352570
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