Exposure risks and tetanus immunization in women of family owned farms. Implications for occupational and environmental health nursing.

A sampling pool of 4,808 farms in 10 parishes across southeast Louisiana was used to examine the risk factors of farm women who engage in activities putting them at risk for tetanus and to examine the circumstances related to vaccination. Data were collected, via stratified random sampling, in summer 1998 resulting in 657 completed interviews. Only 53.6% of women were current with a tetanus booster, having received their immunization within the past 10 years. Just as many women received tetanus vaccination following an injury or accident as for prevention. As women aged, they were less likely to be compliant. In the South, a number of environmental factors contribute to the risk for tetanus exposure and infection. These risk factors were examined in light of compliance with tetanus booster compliance. Increasing awareness of risk is essential because although tetanus is uncommon, the death rate from tetanus is greater than 30%.