A Qualitative Pragmatic Evaluation of Statewide Efforts to Promote Digital Access for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers in North Carolina.

OBJECTIVES

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers face barriers to internet access, which impacts health. We sought to draw lessons and practitioner experiences from three digital accessibility programs for farmworkers in North Carolina (NC): (1) a project that provided technology and training to farmworker-serving community health workers and tablets to students from farmworker families; (2) a project that provided laptops to children of farmworkers; and (3) a state health department emergency pandemic response that provided internet access to farmworkers and community health workers.

METHODS

We conducted 52 in-person, virtual, or phone interviews in English or Spanish with migrant and seasonal farmworkers (n = 29), farmworker service providers (n = 21), and employers or farm owners/managers (n = 2) between August 2020 and February 2022. A team of four analysts used deductive and inductive thematic coding in NVivo 12.

RESULTS

Our findings were captured in four themes: (1) pre-project challenges regarding internet accessibility and quality as well as access to technology and resources; (2) project-related experiences including recruitment, trainings, resources, and challenges; (3) benefits of the projects, including improved access to care and health information, communication, and self-efficacy; and (4) recommendations for training, resources, and relationship building, as well as persisting challenges.

CONCLUSION

Based on these findings, interventions to promote digital accessibility through internet access and education can benefit the health of farmworkers. Future program planners should consider lessons learned across three real-world implementation efforts in NC, addressing participants' recommendations for pairing training with internet access and seeking sustainable options for internet access through partnerships.