About

Dr. Anabel Rodriguez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health at the School of Public Health, Texas A&M University. Her research, outreach, and training efforts focus on improving occupational health, safety, and well-being among Spanish and Indigenous-speaking agricultural working populations in rural regions. Her recent work emphasizes the identification and prevention of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and influenza, as well as addressing health service access issues in 'health deserts', including vaccine access, utilization, hesitancy, and systemic barriers. Dr. Rodriguez also studies social determinants of health associated with agricultural occupations, including dairy farm workers, seasonal migrant workers, and H-2A visa guest farmworkers in the Texas Panhandle and U.S.-Mexico border communities of the Rio Grande Valley and El Paso. She is the daughter of Mexican immigrants and seasonal migrant farmworkers from the Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Rodriguez holds a PhD and an MPH from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, and a BS from Saint Edward’s University. Her research interests include agricultural working populations, immigrant health, occupational safety, health disparities, and infectious diseases such as COVID-19, bovine tuberculosis, and brucellosis. She is also engaged in teaching occupational epidemiology, occupational health, safety, and well-being, with a focus on immigrant working populations.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Humanities
• Radiology
• Gynecology
• Art
• Environmental health
• Demography
• Surgery
• Pathology

Selected publications

• Clinical Outcomes Of Secondary Surgery Performed Within 24 Hours After Small-Incision Lenticule Extraction Failure

  2026-03-31

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Fuimos olvidados y descuidados [Forgotten and Neglected]: Lessons Learned and Findings From On-Farm COVID-19 Education and Vaccine Clinics for Agricultural Workers and Their Multigenerational Families in Texas

  Workplace Health & Safety · 2026-04-16

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Background: Despite being deemed essential non-healthcare workers, agricultural workers were excluded from COVID-19 vaccine prioritization in Texas. This professional practice report describes the multifaceted worker health and safety approaches to protecting agricultural workers and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Between March 2020 and January 2025, several outreach, education, and training grants from various funding agencies were leveraged to deliver training, personal protective equipment, vaccines, and economic relief to agricultural workers in partnership with community-based organizations, industry, local public health departments, and academic institutions. Findings: Timely funding efforts led to the distribution of 1,000 PPE kits, with more than 3,000 in-person and virtual trainings, 80 on-farm clinics hosted with over 2,200 vaccinations, 4,500 door-to-door education visits in 31 rural counties and 61 zip codes, exceeding 4,600 relief payments distributed, and 30,000 rural county resource lists disseminated across rural agricultural communities in Texas. These collaborative efforts gave rise to Sembrando el Sueño —a program that provided social services to agricultural workers in the Texas Panhandle. Conclusion/Application to Practice: Over $4.5 million in grant monies were leveraged to help advocate for agricultural worker health, safety, and well-being as well as their multigenerational households in rural Texas. This report underscores the challenges and the collaborative multifaceted approach needed among various partners to ensure that essential workers are adequately protected from exposure to infectious agents while on the job.

  PublisherDOI

• The role of childhood experiences in shaping career choices as a Community Health Worker serving agricultural workers in rural Texas

  Discover Public Health · 2026-04-01

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Community Health Workers (CHWs) have historically bridged gaps between public health systems and rural, hard-to-reach communities. Many CHWs have personal connections to the communities and populations they serve. Yet, there is limited understanding of how these formative experiences influence CHWs’ career decisions, particularly those who serve agricultural workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted among CHWs (n = 15) who provide outreach services to Texas agricultural workers. Data was collected through structured phone interviews using standardized survey tools: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), acculturation and language use (SASH), anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), and open-ended questions focused on professional and lived experiences. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were conducted. Participants were predominantly bilingual Hispanic females (87.0%). Mean ACEs score was 2.3, reflecting moderate exposure to adversity, and mean SASH score was 2.6 suggesting bicultural tendencies. Participants reported low levels of anxiety and depression. Many shared that their parents had worked in agriculture and recalled that their own experiences mirrored systemic barriers faced by agricultural workers, including lack of transportation (48.7%), health insurance (40.0%), and health access (28.7%). Thematic analysis revealed that CHWs expressed a deep emotional connection to agricultural workers, rooted in their shared personal experiences. There is a need to invest in CHW programs to ensure their lived and field experiences inform public health strategies. Future work should develop comprehensive, ongoing training for evolving issues, and establish a statewide network for CHWs to share field experiences, resources, connect with peers, access trainings, and alert public health agencies on emerging issues.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• <i>Ocupación de Familia</i>: Parent-Child Stress and Coping in Rural Farm-Dependent Families

  OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine · 2025-01-06

  articleOpen access

  Farmworkers are the backbone of the agricultural economy in the US yet are disproportionately burdened with economic-related stress and adverse behavioral health outcomes. How these stressors translate to children and family well-being is poorly understood. Grounded in Transactional Stress and Coping Theory, we aimed to understand how children and families adapt and respond to the stressors associated with farm labor occupations in a rural, underserved, bi-national community. We utilized focus groups with adult children of farmworkers and behavioral health providers serving the farming community to understand the lived experiences of growing up with a farmworker parent. Findings suggest that farm-dependent families face chronic, interconnected stressors. Farm work is viewed as a family occupation where each member contributes directly or indirectly to the farm labor efforts. Distinct coping strategies were used among parents and children. To effectively support farm-dependent families, we recommend prioritizing K-12 policy and programming specific to farmworker families, reducing farmworker's exposure to precarious employment conditions, and employing universal harm reduction strategies to address substance use.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Variability in orientation and training among Texas infection preventionists and its impact on CIC preparedness

  American Journal of Infection Control · 2025-10-30 · 2 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Hazardous work exposures and working conditions and the risk of serious injury among Latino day laborers in Houston, Texas (2014–2021)

  Frontiers in Public Health · 2025-09-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Introduction: Latino day laborers (LDLs) are frequently exposed to workplace hazards that increase their risk of an injury. The purpose of this study was to assess the relative influence of worker and workplace characteristics on serious injuries reported by LDLs at four different time points. We examined the influence of demographic characteristics, hazardous chemical exposures and working conditions using data from four cross-sectional surveys conducted between 2014 and 2021. Methods: A total of 740 LDL were randomly recruited from public job hiring locations (known as "corners") in Houston Texas to participate in surveys conducted as part of injury risk reduction studies. Spanish speaking interviewers followed a rigorously tested field methodology and administered a previously validated survey instrument. Data from four cross-sectional surveys were each examined separately and then jointly to determine the covariates associated with serious injuries. Results: Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed significant year-to-year variability in the associations between hazardous chemical exposures, working conditions, and reported serious injuries. Gasoline exposure emerged as the strongest predictor across survey years. Analysis of the aggregated data indicates that exposure to gasoline, to dust and gasses, and to working conditions that include the risk of getting cut, and lack of ventilation, increased the odds of reporting a serious injury. By contrast, exposure to glue and adhesives was associated with a decrease in the odds of a reported serious injury. Demographic characteristics were not associated with reported injury per survey year or when data was aggregated. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that serious injury is associated with the characteristics of the workplace and not the worker, as workplace hazards were significantly associated with serious injury, while worker demographic characteristics were not. The variability in workplace hazards associated with serious injury per survey year was expected in light of the constant job rotation reported by workers. Aggregated data confirmed initial findings and also highlighted new hazards, including those associated with a decreased risk for injury. Hazards confronted by LDL need to be considered globally, as their influence may vary by job, context, circumstances, and over time. Future research should examine how different exposures interact to influence injury risk. This understanding may benefit safety training programs and guide their efforts to reduce LDL risk of injuries at work.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Safety Leadership Training: Implementation and Effectiveness Evaluation in the Dairy Farm Industry

  Workplace Health & Safety · 2025-03-17 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  Background: Evidence-based interventions for the prevention of safety incidents at work are most effective when they include a focus on the hierarchy of controls. However, prior studies addressing the effects of safety leadership and safety climate are limited. The determination and adoption of evidence-based interventions specifically in the U.S. Agricultural, Forestry, and Fishing (AgFF) sector can be a challenge, and prior studies have shown a paucity of evidence-based occupational safety and health practices in the AgFF sector. Methods: We enrolled 73 dairy farm supervisors from 27 U.S. farms to participate in a 12-module dairy leadership training program. We employed the Kirkpatrick Model (KM) to evaluate different levels of training effectiveness. Findings: Participant reactions to the program were positive (KM level 1), and evaluation of knowledge gained among participants revealed 90% had learned new safety leadership information (KM level 2) that could be applied in their role as a dairy farm supervisor (KM level 3). Nearly 88% reported favorable experiences during their training participation. Post-training group interviews with supervisors ( n = 21) provided information regarding training experiences and constructive feedback regarding opportunities for training improvement. Behavior change evaluation revealed nearly 50% of observed safety hazards on farms were related to livestock handling (21.6%), trips/falls (17.1%), and moving machinery (10.4%). The largest percentage of observed workplace conflicts were verbal (27.8%). Conclusions/Application to Practice: The application of the Kirkpatrick Model of training evaluation suggests participating dairy farm supervisors had positive experiences with the training program, and acquired safety hazard and workplace conflict identification skills.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Methods for a comprehensive targeted and suspect screen survey of exogenous chemicals in shed baby teeth

  International Journal of Mass Spectrometry · 2025-09-27

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Development, delivery, and evaluation of the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute pilot infection control lecture series

  Frontiers in Public Health · 2025-03-12 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  Introduction The Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI) aims to keep Texans healthy and the economy strong by preparing for the next infectious disease outbreak. TEPHI’s Small Rural Healthcare Preparedness core developed, delivered, and evaluated a pilot infection prevention and control webinar series called Infection Control for rural-serving health professionals and organizations based on infection prevention and control field best practices. Methods Data from the first year of the Infection Control series was collected through attendee registration forms, attendance records, knowledge, and post-lecture evaluation surveys using Qualtrics. The data were analyzed using Qualtrics software. Lectures were free and open to the public across disciplines. The material was promoted through public health channels with promotional flyers. Results 1,105 individuals attended or viewed the Infection Control series. Despite a generally low response rate to evaluation surveys, feedback was consistently positive. Participants noted a “high likelihood of future TEPHI infection prevention and control lecture attendance.” The feedback informed improvements for the second year of the series. Conclusion Attendees of the Infection Control series gained a deeper understanding of relevant policies, procedures, and practices. By providing essential, accessible education on infection prevention and control at no cost, healthcare systems, administrators, and providers in rural healthcare systems across Texas have acquired the necessary knowledge to establish and maintain a safe environment for patients and staff in healthcare settings.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Effectiveness of Trained Community Lay Workers on Glycemic Control, Knowledge, and Self-Efficacy Among Agricultural Workers with Diabetes in the Texas Panhandle

  Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health · 2024-05-03 · 4 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Systemic health barriers, economic challenges, and lack of follow-up care exacerbate self-management of chronic diseases like diabetes among Hispanic agricultural workers. The primary objective of this pilot project was to determine the benefit of using community coaches to decrease A1C levels and increase diabetes knowledge among agricultural workers with diagnosed diabetes in the Texas Panhandle. A longitudinal study design with two phases was used to create, deliver, and evaluate a diabetes coaching program. Phase 1 was the development of the program and community coaches training (n = 4). In Phase 2, the coaches then delivered the program over 12 weeks to thirteen clients. Phase 1: All coaches were Hispanic females, 28.3 (SD 3.8) years of age, half had at most a high school education level and the other half had a vocational certification (n = 4). Mean DKQ-24 score was 54.2% (SD = 29.7) at baseline and 75.0% (SD = 31.4) after training (t (4) = 4.6, P < 0.05). We observed a very large difference between mean baseline and exit DKQ-24 scores relative to the pooled standard deviation, resulting in an effect size estimate of 0.59 indicative of a medium to large learning effect. Phase 2: Clients were Hispanic Spanish-speaking, predominantly female (55%), 44.4 (SD 6.8) years of age with at most a high school level of education (88.9%) and occupations varied from dairy farm worker (33.3%), meat processing worker (33.3%), and other agriculture or manufacturing position (33.3%). The mean SKILLD score was 40.0% (SD = 28.7) at baseline, increasing to 72.2% (SD = 25.4) at 12 weeks upon completion of the coaching program (t (9) = 2.956, P < 0.05). We observed a very large difference between mean baseline and exit SKILLD scores relative to the pooled standard deviation, resulting in an effect size estimate of 1.13 indicative of a large learning effect. The mean A1C levels at baseline screening was 8.3% (SD = 3.0) and 7.6% (SD = 3.0) at exit screening, representing a 0.7% decrease (p = 0.4730). No statistically significant differences were observed between depression (p = 0.786) or anxiety (p = 1.000) measures at baseline compared to exit. Training and coaching programs for hard-to-reach agricultural and meat processing workers must be culturally, linguistically, and literacy appropriate for both coaches and clients. The program must be feasible and sustainable, focus on empowering community members, capitalize on technological advances and persisting new-normals from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as dismantle common systemic barriers to health and understanding lived-experiences of agricultural working populations in rural regions.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• David I. Douphrate

  Texas A&M University

  27 shared

• David Gimeno

  The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

  15 shared

• G. Robert Hagevoort

  New Mexico State University

  12 shared

• Shannon Guillot-Wright

  10 shared

• Matthew W. Nonnenmann

  Lindsay Unified School District

  10 shared

• Heide Castañeda

  University of South Florida

  9 shared

• Anita Alves Pena

  Intermountain Healthcare

  9 shared

• Linh H. Truong

  The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

  9 shared