Abstract
Latino immigrant day laborers, also termed jornaleros or contingent workers, compose a significant segment of the millions of undocumented, temporary workers in our urban centers. These laborers largely
work without benefit of health insurance in occupations that are unmonitored, unprotected, and often unsafe. This study utilized
semi-structured interviews to explore the perceived health status and resources for health care in one group of 20 Latino
day laborers in southern California. Results suggest a population that is largely in undocumented immigrant status with few
health care resources other than emergency care centers and clinics provided for the homeless population. With close to 12
million undocumented workers currently residing in the US, this population bears additional scrutiny both for humanitarian
reasons and for public health policy considerations.
work without benefit of health insurance in occupations that are unmonitored, unprotected, and often unsafe. This study utilized
semi-structured interviews to explore the perceived health status and resources for health care in one group of 20 Latino
day laborers in southern California. Results suggest a population that is largely in undocumented immigrant status with few
health care resources other than emergency care centers and clinics provided for the homeless population. With close to 12
million undocumented workers currently residing in the US, this population bears additional scrutiny both for humanitarian
reasons and for public health policy considerations.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-011-9516-z
- Authors
- Oscar A. Leclere, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Rebecca A. López, School of Social Work, California State University, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840, USA
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912