Health characteristics and utilization of public sector health facilities among migrant agricultural workers in Orange County, New York.

Publicly subsidized medical clinics were established to provide migrant farmworkers with minimal access to mainstream medical care. Nevertheless, migrant farmworkers delay treatment of health problems and refrain totally from use of medical facilities. The present study explores the health status and utilization of subsidized migrant clinics by farmworkers in a vegetable production county (Orange County) in upstate New York. Multivariate analysis indicated that economic resources, mental health status, health insurance coverage, language, education and utilization of acute care facilities are important predictors of these decisions.