450 A qualitative approach to Latin American agricultural workers’ health in Spain

Abstract OP 2: Determinants of Health Disease and Interventions 4, B210 (FCSH), September 3, 2025, 14:30 - 15:30 Aims The aim was to qualitatively explore the effect of the working conditions of agricultural work on men and women from Latin America who were working in Spain. Methods Within the framework of the AGROMISALUD II Project, twenty-two (12 women and 10 men) agricultural workers from Latin America were interviewed in three Spanish provinces (Murcia, Huelva, and Lleida). They were aged between 23 and 51 years old Results Agricultural workers described physical exhaustion due to repetitive movements and uncomfortable postures (bending down to pick fruit or vegetables), which affected their knees, neck, spine, and wrists. They also experienced pain in their backs, knees, feet, and hands, and heat stroke, which caused dizziness and weakness. Men suffer from allergies to tree dust, tomatoes, or chemicals such as sulfur, that are sprayed near workers, causing reactions in the respiratory tract (sneezing) or the lachrymal system (tearing). They denounced a lack of occupational risk prevention, such as adequate protective masks. Another occupational hazard they identified was accidents when traveling to workplaces. Women who worked in warehouses complained of fatigue, lower back pain (lumbago, sciatica), elbow, hand, knee, and cervical pain. They spent much time on their feet without moving or with their heads bent over a conveyor belt making repetitive and monotonous movements daily. The cold affected their hands’ bones, and they suffered from carpal tunnel inflammation, and diseases such as arthritis. They work while their bodies resist, and some colleagues abandoned the work to be caregivers. In terms of psychological and emotional health, women working in warehouses reported feeling overwhelmed and anxious due to the feeling of confinement and taking sleeping pills. Conclusions There is a need for occupational safety measures from a gender-specific approach and policy changes to improve the health and well-being of this population conducting essential work in Spain.