Uplap Pallavi A, Bhate Kamaxi
Department of Community Medicine, Grant Government Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Department of Community Medicine, Seth G.S. Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2014 Sep-Dec;18(3):140-4. doi: 10.4103/0019-5278.146912.
In India, ragpickers form the base of hierarchy of informal sector of the solid waste management. Assessment of general and gender specific health of women is conducted in this study in view of dearth of published evidence.
An interventional study was conducted from October 2003 to April 2005 in Mumbai, at the field office of a nongovernmental organization working for women ragpickers. By the systematic random sampling 168 women ragpickers were selected. Both general and gender-specific health needs of this socially and occupationally marginalized group, including health seeking behavior were explored in this study. Fourteen participants were trained as health volunteers to create awareness in the local community. The data was analyzed by using SPSS version 11.0 software program (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA).
Marriage at young age, multiple pregnancies, low preference toward temporary methods of contraception, high addiction were prevalent in this lower socioeconomic young workforce. Morbidity was statistically significant among ragpickers who collected rags along dumpsite than street side and door to door waste collectors (χ(2) = 27.8; df = 2; P < 0.001 significant). A need-based training program helped to improve knowledge of the participants [z = 12.7 (P < 0.05)].
Unfulfilled health needs of this underprivileged workforce who contributes to the ecology and economy of the city need to be addressed. Sensitization of both general public and government is essential to legitimize this occupation. This in turn may help to alleviate poverty and environmental degradation; characteristic of rapid and unplanned urbanization in India.
在印度，拾荒者构成了固体废物管理非正规部门等级制度的底层。鉴于公开证据匮乏，本研究对女性的一般健康状况和性别特定健康状况进行了评估。
2003年10月至2005年4月在孟买的一个为女性拾荒者服务的非政府组织实地办公室进行了一项干预性研究。通过系统随机抽样，选取了168名女性拾荒者。本研究探讨了这个社会和职业边缘化群体的一般健康需求和性别特定健康需求，包括就医行为。14名参与者被培训为健康志愿者，以提高当地社区的认识。使用SPSS 11.0软件程序（美国伊利诺伊州芝加哥市SPSS公司）对数据进行分析。
在这个社会经济地位较低的年轻劳动力群体中，早婚、多次怀孕、对临时避孕方法的低偏好、高成瘾率很普遍。在垃圾场收集垃圾的拾荒者中的发病率在统计学上显著高于街边和挨家挨户收集垃圾的拾荒者（χ(2)=27.8；自由度=2；P<0.001，显著）。一个基于需求的培训项目有助于提高参与者的知识水平[z=12.7（P<0.05）]。
这个为城市生态和经济做出贡献的贫困劳动力未得到满足的健康需求需要得到解决。提高公众和政府的认识对于使这个职业合法化至关重要。这反过来可能有助于缓解贫困和环境退化；这是印度快速且无计划城市化的特征。
