TABLE I.
Demographic Characteristics of Strawberry Fieldworkers, Monterey County, California, 2003 (n = 73)
| Characteristic | No. (%) |
|---|---|
| Sex | |
| Male | 61 (83.6) |
| Female | 12 (16.4) |
| Age (years) | |
| 18–24 | 25 (34.3) |
| 25–29 | 15 (20.5) |
| 30–39 | 17 (23.3) |
| ≥40 | 16 (21.9) |
| Ethnicity | |
| Mexican | 63 (86.3) |
| Mexican Indian | 9 (12.3) |
| Other Latino | 1 (1.4) |
| Highest level of education | |
| None | 8 (10.9) |
| 1–6th grade | 50 (68.5) |
| 7–9th grade | 14 (19.2) |
| Some high school | 1 (1.4) |
| Marital status | |
| Married/living as married | 56 (76.7) |
| Single | 17 (23.3) |
| Total years lived in the U.S.b | |
| ≤1 | 16 (22.2) |
| 2–4 | 28 (38.9) |
| ≥5 | 28 (38.9) |
| Number of years working in U.S. agriculture | |
| ≤1 | 23 (31.5) |
| 2–4 | 21 (28.8) |
| ≥5 | 29 (39.7) |
| Received information or training about pesticides | |
| Received <1year ago | 33 (45.2) |
| Received >1year ago | 11 (15.1) |
| Never | 29 (39.7) |
| Monthly household income | |
| $750 or less | 14 (19.2) |
| $751–1,500 | 33 (45.2) |
| $1,501–2,000 | 17 (23.3) |
| ≥$2,001 | 9 (12.3) |
| Family income relative to federal poverty levela | |
| ≤Poverty level | 51 (69.9) |
| >Poverty level <200% of poverty | 20 (27.4) |
| ≥200% Poverty | 2 (2.7) |
| Number of household members | |
| ≤4 | 23 (31.5) |
| 5–9 | 34 (46.6) |
| ≥10 | 16 (21.9) |
| Number of other farmworkers in householdb | |
| 0 | 4 (5.5) |
| 1–4 | 45 (61.6) |
| 5–9 | 12 (16.4) |
| ≥10 | 12 (16.4) |
| Number of children (<6 years) in household | |
| None | 52 (71.2) |
| ≥1 | 21 (28.8) |
No., number.
a
Workers’ poverty levels were calculated using the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ thresholds for the year 2003. A family of four with an annual income of $18,400 or less was considered to be at or below the poverty level; the same family earning between $18,400 and $36,800 is within 200% of the poverty level.
b
n = 72 due to missing data.