Health Interventions for the Prevention of Dehydration in Agricultural Workers Exposed to Heat Stress: A Systematic Review
Year: 2025
Published in: Healthcare
Background: Heat stress in agricultural work is a significant health risk, especially due to dehydration as a result of exposure to heat, physical exertion, and inadequate hydration practices. This problem becomes even more critical when working outdoors, where extreme conditions can intensify the effects.
Objective: The main objective of the present study was to determine the existing interventions to prevent or mitigate dehydration among agricultural workers exposed to heat stress during their workday outdoors, in both real and simulated contexts.
Methods: A systematic review was performed in accordance to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The search strategy combined MeSH terms and an open search in six scientific databases. Relevant studies were selected and data from the interventions were extracted, following the guidelines from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) for systematic reviews. The studies were assessed with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) and the GRADE assessment framework.
Results: Nine studies were included, which focused on interventions such as education programs, cooling devices, and hydration strategies. The results showed that adequate access to water, rest in the shade, the use of cooling bandanas, and hydration backpacks, were effective in reducing dehydration and heat stress among agricultural workers exposed to high temperatures.
Conclusions: An integrated approach combining education, hydration, and workplace improvements is essential to prevent dehydration and heat stress among agricultural workers. While body cooling is promising, further research and investments in infrastructure are needed to ensure access to safe drinking water, shaded rest areas, cooling technologies, educational initiatives, and health monitoring systems.