Villafaña C
Hygie. 1983 Dec;2(4):35-8.
Most of the problems concerning the health of the workers in developing countries exist in Latin America : rapid urbanisation, dearth of information on the risks the workers face, intensification of efforts to increase returns. The geographic situation of a country also has its importance: working conditions are more difficult in tropical climates. Over populated, poor districts increase the danger of transmission of infectious diseases. Loneliness, a change in the mode of life are an incentive to alcoholism. The vast majority of Latin American workers are employed in small workshops. In Puerto Rico, 90 per cent of them work in firms employing less than fifty people. It is precisely in these small workshops that health problems are the most serious. The publication of laws to protect health is not sufficient, education campaigns must be organized at all levels: government officials, trade-unions, entrepreneurs and the workers themselves. Education programmes to protect the health of the workers must include the prevention of new risks due to environmental conditions. Health education is essential to protect and improve the health of the workers in Latin America.
快速城市化、工人面临风险的信息匮乏、增加回报的努力加剧。一个国家的地理位置也很重要：热带气候下工作条件更艰苦。人口过剩、贫困地区增加了传染病传播的危险。孤独、生活方式的改变是酗酒的诱因。绝大多数拉丁美洲工人受雇于小作坊。在波多黎各，90%的工人在雇员不足50人的公司工作。恰恰是在这些小作坊里，健康问题最为严重。仅颁布保护健康的法律是不够的，必须在各级组织开展教育活动：政府官员、工会、企业家以及工人自身。保护工人健康的教育方案必须包括预防因环境条件产生的新风险。健康教育对于保护和改善拉丁美洲工人的健康至关重要。
