A pilot project to increase health literacy among youth from seasonal farmworker families in rural eastern North Carolina: a qualitative exploration of implementation and impact

Israel M. Mendez; Mary Lisa Pories; Leah Cordova; Andreina Malki; Melinda F. Wiggins; Joseph G. L. Lee

doi:10.5195/jmla.2019.560

Authors

Israel M. Mendez Research Assistant, Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Mary Lisa Pories College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Leah Cordova STEM Librarian, Research and Instructional Services, Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Andreina Malki Youth Director, Student Action with Farmworkers, Durham, NC
Melinda F. Wiggins Executive Director, Student Action with Farmworkers, Durham, NC
Joseph G. L. Lee Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health and Human Performance, and Center for Health Disparities, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9698-649X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2019.560

Keywords:

Agricultural Workers’ Diseases, Farmworkers, Agricultural Workers, Health Literacy, Adolescent

Abstract

Objective: There are substantial health inequalities for seasonal agricultural workers and their families in the United States. One identified inequality is in health literacy. The authors explored the implementation and impact of connecting youth from seasonal farmworker families who participated in a leadership and college pipeline program with Internet access by providing a tablet with a paid cellular data plan and university library–based health literacy training.

Methods: With the support of a National Network of Libraries of Medicine Health Information Outreach Award, we conducted a qualitative, utilization-focused evaluation by conducting semi-structured interviews from December 2017 through February 2018 with middle and high school age participants in the program (n=10). After parental consent and youth assent, we recorded interviews with participants at program activity locations or in their homes. We then utilized inductive thematic analysis with 2 primary coders.

Results: We identified four themes: (1) having access to the Internet can be transformative, (2) access resulted in increased knowledge of and interest in one’s own and others’ health, (3) “Google” is the norm, and (4) participant training increased self-efficacy to determine credible sources and resources.

Conclusion: Providing Internet access and iPads was possible to implement and resulted in increased utilization of health information. The combination of Internet access with training on information literacy was a key factor in achieving these positive outcomes. The findings suggest the importance of ensuring equitable access to the Internet in efforts to improve educational and health outcomes for seasonal farmworkers and their families.

Author Biographies

Israel M. Mendez, Research Assistant, Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

Research Assistant, Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health and Human Performance

Mary Lisa Pories, College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

College of Health and Human Performance

Leah Cordova, STEM Librarian, Research and Instructional Services, Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

STEM Librarian, Research and Instructional Services, Joyner Library

Andreina Malki, Youth Director, Student Action with Farmworkers, Durham, NC

Youth Director

Melinda F. Wiggins, Executive Director, Student Action with Farmworkers, Durham, NC

Executive Director

Joseph G. L. Lee, Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health and Human Performance, and Center for Health Disparities, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health and Human Performance, and Center for Health Disparities, Brody School of Medicine

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