Exposure to agricultural hazards among children who visit farms.

Background: Children are commonly injured on farms, yet no studies provide evidence about exposures that leave rural children visiting farms at risk.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to study (a) how frequently rural nonfarm children are exposed to farms, farm work and associated activities; and (b) the safety conditions and practices on farms being visited.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered in Saskatchewan, Canada to rural parents during 2014.

Towards a deeper understanding of parenting on farms: A qualitative study.

Background: Children living on farms experience exceptionally high risks for traumatic injury. There is a large body of epidemiological research documenting this phenomenon, yet few complementary studies that have explored the deep underlying reasons for such trends. Fundamental to this is understanding the decision-making processes of parents surrounding their choice to bring children, or not, into the farm worksite.

Correction to: Cohort profile: the Saskatchewan Rural Health Study-adult component.

Following publication of the original article [1] the authors notified Production that the names of three authors-Valerie Elliot, Louise Hagel, and Roland Dyck-had been unintentionally omitted in the final online version of the manuscript. The corrected author list is shown in this Correction.

Impact of sleep on injury risk among rural children.

Objectives: To examine sleep patterns in a large cohort of rural children and explore the association between sleep patterns and injury occurrence.

Methods: Cross-sectional analyses of the baseline survey from a prospective cohort study (2012 to 2017) was conducted with 46 rural schools in Saskatchewan, Canada who distributed surveys to parents of 2275 rural dwelling farm and nonfarm children aged 0 to 17 years. Parents reported child sleep characteristics and farm or nonfarm injury in the previous calendar year.

Cohort profile: the Saskatchewan Rural Health Study-adult component.

Objectives: Less is known about the respiratory health of general farming and non-framing populations. A longitudinal Saskatchewan Rural Health Study (SRHS) was conducted to explore the association between individual and contextual factors with respiratory health outcomes in these populations. Hence, the objectives are to: (i) describe the updated methodology of longitudinal SRHS-an extension of baseline survey methodology published earlier; (ii) compare baseline characteristics and the prevalences of respiratory health outcomes between drops-outs and completers; and (iii) summarize key findings based on baseline survey data.

Resilience of Farm Women Working the Third Shift.

Background: We examined physical health and work experiences in a Saskatchewan population of farm women, and determined how participation in the "third shift" (a phenomenon where women engage in off-farm employment, farm labor, and as homemakers) relates to their demographic, physical health, and work experiences.

Materials And Methods: This is a cross-sectional epidemiological study. Reports from 980 women who lived or worked on Saskatchewan farms were analyzed to describe their health status, comorbidities, use of medications, and exposures to farm work.

Lung function in relation to farm dwelling and farming activities in rural dwelling children.

Background And Objective: The relationship between farming exposures and pulmonary function in a rural paediatric population was evaluated.

Methods: Baseline data collection records of the Saskatchewan Rural Health Study (SRHS), a population-based study, were used. A subset of children (6-14 years old) participated in clinical testing, including anthropometric measures and pulmonary function testing (PFT), using spirometry (n = 584).

Prevalence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of atopic and nonatopic asthma among rural children.

Background: Because of time and cost constraints, objective classification of atopic and nonatopic asthma has been limited in large epidemiologic studies. However, as we try to better understand exposure-outcome associations and ensure appropriate treatment of asthma, it is important to focus on phenotype-defined asthma classification.

Objective: To compare atopic and nonatopic asthma in rural children with regard to risk factors and clinical outcomes.

Gender Differences in the Association of Individual and Contextual Exposures with Lung Function in a Rural Canadian Population.

Introduction: To investigate the association of individual and contextual exposures with lung function by gender in rural-dwelling Canadians.

Methods: A cross-sectional mail survey obtained completed questionnaires on exposures from 8263 individuals; a sub-sample of 1609 individuals (762 men, 847 women) additionally participated in clinical lung function testing. The three dependent variables were forced expired volume in one second (FEV), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV/FVC ratio.

Actual Body Weight and the Parent's Perspective of Child's Body Weight among Rural Canadian Children.

The prevalence of being overweight during childhood continues to increase in the USA and Canada and children living in rural areas are more at risk than their urban counterparts. The objectives of this study were to evaluate how well the parent's perception of their child's weight status correlated with objectively measured weight status among a group of rural children and to identify predictors of inaccurate parental perceptions of child's weight status. Participants were children from the Saskatchewan Rural Health Study conducted in 2010.

Identifying and mitigating risks for agricultural injury associated with obesity.

In some occupational contexts overweight and obesity have been identified as risk factors for injury. The purpose of this study was to examine this hypothesis within farm work environments and then to identify specific opportunities for environmental modification as a preventive strategy. Data on farm-related injuries, height and weight used to calculate body mass index (BMI), and demographic characteristics were from the Phase 2 baseline survey of the Saskatchewan Farm Injury Cohort; a large cross-sectional mail-based survey conducted in Saskatchewan, Canada from January through May 2013.

Ear Infection and Its Associated Risk Factors in First Nations and Rural School-Aged Canadian Children.

Background. Ear infections in children are a major health problem and may be associated with hearing impairment and delayed language development. Objective.

Early farm residency and prevalence of asthma and hay fever in adults.

Background: Asthma and hay fever have been found to be both positively and negatively associated with farming lifestyles in adulthood. Lack of congruency may depend upon early life exposure.

Objective: To assess the importance of different periods of farm residency for asthma and hay fever in an adult Canadian population.

Factors Associated With the Prevalence of Prostate Cancer in Rural Saskatchewan: The Saskatchewan Rural Health Study.

Purpose: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canadian males, and it is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths in men. Some studies suggest that occupational exposure may be associated with prostate cancer. However, the etiology of prostate cancer is ambiguous.

The Hierarchy of Control in the Epidemic of Farm Injury.

The application of the hierarchy of control (HOC) is a well-established approach to hazard reduction in industrial workplaces. However, it has not been generally applied in farm workplaces. The objective was to determine current practices of farmers in the context of a modified HOC, and the effect of these practices on farm injury outcomes.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Respiratory Symptoms in Rural Population.

Research has shown that respiratory symptoms, including chronic cough, chronic phlegm, shortness of breath, and wheeze, are important markers that contribute to hospitalization, lung function decline, and other respiratory illness. This report aims to estimate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and associated environmental risk factors in farming and nonfarming rural-dwelling people. A baseline mail-out questionnaire to assess respiratory health outcomes as well as individual and contextual determinants in farm and small town cohorts was sent to 11,004 households within four geographical regions of Saskatchewan, Canada, in 2010.

Income adequacy and education associated with the prevalence of obesity in rural Saskatchewan, Canada.

Background: Obesity is prevalent in rural communities in Canada, however little is known about the social determinants of health and obesity in rural populations. Socioeconomic status has been found to be inversely associated with the risk of obesity in developed countries. This study investigated the relationship between income adequacy, education and obesity in a rural setting.

A community-based participatory research methodology to address, redress, and reassess disparities in respiratory health among First Nations.

Background: To date, determinants of respiratory health in First Nations people living on reserves and means of addressing and redressing those determinants have not been well established. Hence the Saskatchewan First Nations Lung Health Project (FNLHP) is a new prospective cohort study of aboriginal people being conducted in two First Nations reserves to evaluate potential health determinants associated with respiratory outcomes. Using the population health framework (PHF) of Health Canada, instruments designed with the communities, joint ownership of data, and based on the 4-phase concept of the First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey, the project aims to evaluate individual factors, contextual factors, and principal covariates on respiratory outcomes.

Factors Related to Self-perceived Health in Rural Men and Women.

This study examined self-perceived health status among men and women who live on farms, as well as variations in factors related to negative health status observed by gender. Data were collected in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, in 2013 through the use of a cross-sectional survey. A multistage sample was developed consisting of farms nested within rural municipalities and then agricultural soil zones.

Access to Specialist Care in Rural Saskatchewan: The Saskatchewan Rural Health Study.

The role of place has emerged as an important factor in determining people's health experiences. Rural populations experience an excess in mortality and morbidity compared to those in urban settings. One of the factors thought to contribute to this rural-urban health disparity is access to healthcare.

Exploring diversity in socioeconomic inequalities in health among rural dwelling Canadians.

Purpose: To describe the patterning of socioeconomic inequalities in health among rural dwelling women and men in a Canadian province, exploring diversity in associations by measure of socioeconomic position, health outcome, and demographic characteristics.

Methods: Baseline data from the Saskatchewan Rural Health Study was used, an ongoing prospective cohort study examining the health of rural people in Saskatchewan, Canada. Of the 11,004 eligible addresses, responses to mailed questionnaires were obtained from 4,624 (42%) households, representing 8,261 women and men.

Farmers, mechanized work, and links to obesity.

Objective: In a contemporary sample of Saskatchewan farm people, to relate the degree of mechanized and also non-mechanized farm work to the occurrence of being overweight or obese. Secondarily to determine the prevalence of being overweight or obese, and to compare these prevalence levels with those reported for general populations.

Method: Cross-sectional analyses of baseline survey data provided for 2849 individuals (2619 adults) from 1216 Saskatchewan farms in 2013.

Impact of excessive daytime sleepiness on the safety and health of farmers in Saskatchewan.

Background: Sleep disorders may negatively impact the health and well-being of affected individuals. The resulting sleepiness and impaired cognitive functioning may also increase the risks for injury.

Objective: To examine the relationship between daytime sleepiness, defined as an Epworth Sleepiness Scale score >10, and self-reported sleep apnea, as potential determinants of farming-related injury and self-perceived physical health.

Hospitalized head and spine injuries on Saskatchewan farms.

Introduction: With over 44,000 individual farms, farm dwellers account for 11% of the population of Saskatchewan. There is limited data on brain and spine injuries acquired on farms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of head and spine injuries on Saskatchewan farms to assist the development of injury prevention initiatives.