Evaluation of Seasonal Hazelnut Workers' Emergency Department Applications in Ordu Province: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objective: In Turkey, agricultural worker migration occurs in order to maintain different regulations and management in different seasons. Seasonal agricultural workers (SAWs) may also cause problems such as not knowing the conditions of the region they go to, experiencing health problems due to seasonal conditions, and increased workload in local institutions brought about by population growth due to humidity. This study aimed to evaluate the emergency service applications of seasonal hazelnut workers during the hazelnut harvesting season and to find solutions to possible health problems. Method: It was a single-center, retrospective study and the applications of seasonal hazelnut workers who applied to the local tertiary emergency department between 01 August 2022 and 30 September 2022 were evaluated. The socio-demographic characteristics of non-pregnant patients aged 18 and over, their reasons for admission to the emergency department, and the treatments they received were recorded. Results: 400 patients with no missing data were included in the study. 60.2% of the patients included in the study were female and 19% were SAWs who were not registered in the population of Ordu province. It was determined that the most common causes of SAWs in emergency department admissions were allergic reactions with at 37.3% and trauma with at 26%. Conclusion: It is observed that SAWs increase the rates of emergency service admissions during the hazelnut harvesting season. We think that in this period, the employment of healthcare personnel should be increased, SAWs should be trained in terms of diseases that may occur due to environmental factors and working conditions, and the necessary health plans should be determined in advance.