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Urban Occupational Health in the Mexican and Latino/Latina Immigrant Population: A Literature Review

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Abstract

Mexican and Latino/Latina immigrants represent a rapidly growing population within the United States. The majority settle in urban areas. As a group, Mexican immigrants typically have low educational attainment and socioeconomic status, and limited English proficiency. These immigrants often find work in hazardous jobs, with high injury and fatality rates. They often have inadequate or no safety training, no personal protective equipment, limited understanding of workers’ rights, job insecurity, fear of report of undocumented status and lack health care benefits. This review includes what has been published on the urban occupational health of this population. The findings suggest that Mexican and Latino/Latina immigrants experience higher rates of work-related fatalities and injuries compared to other populations, and may be less likely to report such incidents to employers or to apply for workers’ compensation. There is a strong need to develop effective programs to address the health and safety of this vulnerable population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 300 E. 66th Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    Francesca Gany & Jennifer Leng

  2. Department of Medicine, Center for Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 300 E. 66th Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    Francesca Gany & Jennifer Leng

  3. Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Patricia Novo

  4. New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Rebecca Dobslaw

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  1. Francesca Gany
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  2. Patricia Novo
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  3. Rebecca Dobslaw
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  4. Jennifer Leng
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Correspondence to Jennifer Leng.

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Gany, F., Novo, P., Dobslaw, R. et al. Urban Occupational Health in the Mexican and Latino/Latina Immigrant Population: A Literature Review. J Immigrant Minority Health 16, 846–855 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9806-8

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