Date of Award

2026-08-01

Degree Name

Master of Public Health

Department

Public Health

Advisor(s)

Gabriel Ibarra-Mejia

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a significant public health challenge worldwide, yet little is known about the prevalence of diabetes risk factors among landscaping workers, an understudied occupational group. The purpose of this pilot study was to estimate the prevalence of type 2 diabetes risk factors among landscaping workers in El Paso, Texas. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of 20 landscaping workers. Participants completed a structured questionnaire and underwent anthropometric measurements, blood pressure assessment, point-of-care lipid and glucose testing, and vitamin D screening. Sixteen type 2 diabetes risk factors were assessed across seven domains: genetic, demographic, social determinants of health, lifestyle, obesity, biological, and psychosocial. Descriptive statistics, prevalence estimates, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Elevated triglycerides (85%) and low vitamin D status (75%) were the most prevalent modifiable risk factors identified. Current or former smoking (65%), overweight or obesity (55%), low HDL levels (55%), family history of type 2 diabetes (50%), elevated blood pressure (50%), central obesity (50%), and low-income level (50%) were also common among participants. Overall, 100% of participants presented with two or more type 2 diabetes risk factors, with a median of eight risk factors per participant. The mean body mass index was 28.0 ± 6.4 kg/m², and the mean waist-to-height ratio was 0.52 ± 0.10. This pilot study identified a high prevalence of multiple type 2 diabetes risk factors among a sample of landscaping workers in El Paso, Texas. Although the findings cannot be generalized because of the small convenience sample, they provide preliminary evidence that landscaping workers appeared to experience a high burden of type 2 diabetes risk factors. Larger studies with more representative samples are needed to confirm these findings and further characterize diabetes risk in this occupational group.

Language

en

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Size

109 p.

File Format

application/pdf

Rights Holder

Valeria Fontes

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Epidemiology Commons

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