Working and health conditions of female vegetable growers in highlands / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

An extesive survey of labor, health and living conditions was conducted on female members of farm households who are primarily growing vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage in the highlands of Nagano Prefecture. The survey included a follow-up on the attitude of those examined physically toward health.<BR>The busiest season for the vegetable growers extends from July to September. About one-third of the respondents in our survey said that they work more than 12 hours a day during the most part of the period.<BR>From the viewpoint of health, the major problem was connected with pesticides, which are sprayed in relatively large quantities over the vegetable fields. Our findings showed that 65% of the female farmers are engaged in the spraying of pesticides, of whom 13% said that they had suffered from intoxication and other types of physical disturbances.<BR>Many complained about trouble in locomotive organs. To be noted is the finding that a half of the examinees had lower back pain, which presumably has something to do with the half-rising posture which the farmers take for a long time while working in the fields.<BR>Our examination also revealed that about 25% of the women are prone to pyelitis and cystitis.<BR>During the busiest season, these working housewives have to bear particular burdens and pressures that have a profund impact on their ability to carry through house work. A half of the housewives said that they do not have time to do family duties such as cooking, washing and cleaning.<BR>Since physical examinations were carried out during the slack season, the attendance at the briefing on the results of examination was pretty good. Most of the examinees who had been told they need a thorough medical checkup or treatment followed the doctors' advice.<BR>The survey found that a majority of the housewives are doing what they can in order to improve their eating habits. As for the improvement of working conditions, however, they find it difficult to lighten their burdens due to the nature of farm work.