Keywords

Chinese immigrants, health disparities, occupational hazards in restaurants, qualitative, restaurant workers

 

Authors

  1. Tsai, Jenny Hsin-Chun PhD, ARNP
  2. Salazar, Mary K. EdD, COHN-S, FAAN

Abstract

Historically, Chinese immigrants to the United States have worked in restaurants to support their families. Hazards and risks associated with this population's work in restaurants are underrepresented in the literature. This ethnographic study used interviews, participant-observations, and follow-up focus sessions with 18 immigrants from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan to identify potential physical, biological, enviromechanical, chemical, and psychosocial hazards that they face. Psychosocial hazards were most often mentioned by the participants; biological hazards were not identified in the data. Practice and research implications for addressing health disparities in this population are discussed.