ABSTRACT
Objetivo: Determinar las condiciones de trabajo y salud de vendedores informales estacionarios del mercado de Bazurto de Cartagena. Metodología: Población: 1210 vendedores informales estacionarios del mercado de la ciudad. Muestra: 584 vendedores. Se utilizó una lista de chequeo para describir las condiciones de trabajo. Para determinar las condiciones de salud se utilizó el cuestionario de alteraciones de salud referida a trabajadores, el cuestionario de síntomas neurotóxicos (Q16) y fue valorado el estado nutricional a través del índice de masa corporal. Resultados: Participaron 583 vendedores con edad promedio de 39 años (I.C. 95% 38-40). El 87,8 % (512) de los participantes están expuestos a ruido constante, un 84,9 % (495) de los lugares de trabajos presentan altas temperaturas, 74,1 % (432) están expuestos a material particulado en suspensión; 69,8 % (407) no utilizan elementos de protección personal y en promedio los vendedores laboran 10 horas diarias. Un 71 %(414) manifestó cansancio físico, 72,4 % (422) dolor de cabeza, 63,7 % (371) dolor de espalda y el 62,7 % (365) dolor en piernas. Conclusiones: El ambiente físico en el que laboran los vendedores informales es inadecuado, lo cual sumado a extensas jornadas laborales y a la inseguridad y delincuencia del sector en el que laboran, supone riesgos para la salud, que ya son referidos en síntomas como dolor de espalda, dolor de cabeza, dolor en las piernas, cansancio visual y cansancio físico.
Objective: Determining informal sellers' health status and working conditions in the Bazurto market in Cartagena. Methods: The target population consisted of informal sellers working in the Bazurto market; sample size consisted of 584 sellers. A check-list was used to describe their working conditions. A “health disordersâ€test and neurotoxic symptoms scale (Q16) were used to determine health status and the body mass index (BMI) for determining nutritional status. Results: 583 sellers participated in the study, having an average age of 39 years (38-40 95 %CI). 87.8 % (512) of the participants were exposed to constant noise, 84.9 % (495) worked in places having high temperatures, 74.1 % (432) were exposed to dust, and 69.8 % (407) did not use personal protective equipment. They were working 10 hours a day on average. 71 % (414) suffered from physical exhaustion, 72.4 % (422) had headaches, 63.7 % (371) had back pain and 62.7 % (365) suffered from pains in their legs. Conclusions: The target population's physical environment was inadequate, they worked for too many hours and some workplaces were dangerous. The informal sellers' symptoms included back pain, headaches, leg pain, eye strain and physical fatigue.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Commerce , Health Status , Occupational Health , Quality of Life , Colombia , EmploymentABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Determining informal sellers' health status and working conditions in the Bazurto market in Cartagena. METHODS: The target population consisted of informal sellers working in the Bazurto market; sample size consisted of 584 sellers. A check-list was used to describe their working conditions. A "health disorders" test and neurotoxic symptoms scale (Q16) were used to determine health status and the body mass index (BMI) for determining nutritional status. RESULTS: 583 sellers participated in the study, having an average age of 39 years (38-40 95 %CI). 87.8 % (512) of the participants were exposed to constant noise, 84.9 % (495) worked in places having high temperatures, 74.1 % (432) were exposed to dust, and 69.8 % (407) did not use personal protective equipment. They were working 10 hours a day on average. 71 % (414) suffered from physical exhaustion, 72.4 % (422) had headaches, 63.7 % (371) had back pain and 62.7 % (365) suffered from pains in their legs. CONCLUSIONS: The target population's physical environment was inadequate, they worked for too many hours and some workplaces were dangerous. The informal sellers' symptoms included back pain, headaches, leg pain, eye strain and physical fatigue.
