Some physician perceptions of migrant and seasonal farm worker health in 45 Rural Georgia counties

Physicians in Georgia were mailed a confidential survey to determine their attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions of migrant and seasonal farm workers' (MSFWs) health and health needs. Criteria for selection of the physician population included practice specialty and practice site. Only physicians specializing in Family Practice, General Practice, General Surgery, and Internal Medicine were considered. Further, only 373 practices located in 45 Non-Metropolitan Statistical Areas (Non-MSAs) counties with migrant populations of more than 100 workers in June of 1995 were selected. The 20 question survey was mailed on January 26, 1996, and data collection ended on April 12, 1996. Two hundred and seven surveys were received, representing a response rate of 55.5%. According to all physicians reporting to treat MSFWs (n = 152), hypertension, gastrointestinal problems, dental problems, muscu-loskeletal problems, and diabetes were the top 5 health related problems associated with this special population. The distribution of health problems according to specialty was very similar. These data also indicate a general awareness of the needs of MSFWs in Georgia as well as the needed support of effective public health policy at the state level. The 166 nonresponding practices were not available for analysis, but their distribution by specialty was similar to that of respondents.