Stresses and health risks of farm women

Women farmers have a specific profile both of illness and of complaints, exhibiting a higher frequency of diseases than women of other occupations but, at the same time, registering fewer complaints. Women farmers tend to consider their own state of health less satisfactory than do other women but demand medical attention less readily. This seemingly contradictory picture is discussed and interpreted, taking into consideration the special situation of these women and the stress factors to which they are subjected. The results were taken from an study conducted in southern Wuerttemberg in 1990 during the course of which 775 farmer's women were questioned about their state of health.