"Internet Devices and Internet Access Among Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers, North Carolina, 2023,"

The internet has emerged as a basic utility that is essential for communication, well-being, education, and socioeconomic opportunities, and digital inclusion is increasingly recognized as one factor that influences the social determinants of health.1-5 Increasing the proportion of adults with broadband internet is an objective of Healthy People 2030.6 As with other utilities, such as water and sewer services, where inequities have been patterned by race and political power,7 evidence exists of a digital divide in internet access.8 The roots of this digital exclusion stem from unequal distribution of resources by age, sex, race, ethnicity, position in the division of labor, position within a nation (eg, resident vs migrant), and education level, resulting in differential access to digital technologies.5

The causes of digital exclusion align with conditions faced by migrant and seasonal farmworkers (hereinafter, “farmworkers” unless otherwise stated). Approximately 70 000 to 80 000 farmworkers reside annually in North Carolina.9 Many live in employer-provided housing that can be isolated,10,11 and policy makers have not resolved issues of health inequities among farmworkers.12,13 Farmworkers are disproportionately affected by chronic health conditions and are under further mental and behavioral health strains because of social isolation and because they are disconnected from family and friends in their countries of origin.14 Community health workers (CHWs) employed by migrant and community health centers, nonprofit organizations, free and charitable clinics, and public health departments provide health education to farmworkers, conduct health assessments, and connect farmworkers to health services.9 Because of the critical role of CHWs as connectors to farmworkers, opportunities exist for CHWs to engage in research on farmworker health, from prioritization and design through data collection and interpretation.12

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