Pesticide biomonitoring report-back preferences of pregnant agricultural workers in California: findings from focus groups

Abstract Prenatal pesticide exposure has been associated with adverse health outcomes, and farmworkers have higher pesticide exposure than the general public. Thus, it is crucial to characterize pesticide exposure and identify strategies to reduce exposure among agricultural workers during pregnancy. Previous studies have conducted biomonitoring among agricultural workers in the US, but knowledge gaps exist regarding the accessibility of resulting report-back materials for this population. We conducted focus groups with a subset of participants from a study examining prenatal occupational pesticide exposure to assess preferences for biomonitoring report-back materials and methods. We aimed to understand (1) how to present urinary pesticide biomonitoring results in an accessible manner, (2) what additional information participants would like to receive with their results, and (3) other concerns participants have about pesticide exposure, and desired resources. Participants ( n = 7) took part in two separate focus groups in November 2024 in Salinas, CA. Focus group recordings were transcribed, translated from Spanish to English, checked for accuracy, and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis framework. Participants ranged in age from 19 to 37 years, were all born in Mexico, and primarily spoke either Mixteco ( n = 4) or Spanish ( n = 3). Participants indicated that written materials communicating biomonitoring report-back or health information were not accessible, and some found words such as ‘concentration’ and ‘average,’ common in biomonitoring, to be confusing. Overall, participants voiced a strong preference to receive biomonitoring report-back materials (1) in person, in consultation with a subject-matter expert, and (2) via videos so they could pause, rewind, and rewatch content. Researchers should consider participants as important stakeholders when designing biomonitoring report-back materials and processes.