RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Globally, occupational hazards are a concern, especially in waste management. With 31.2% of its population in urban areas, India is confronted with escalating waste management challenges. People worldwide generate about two-thirds of a kilogram of waste daily. Effective solid waste management is crucial due to population growth, changing waste patterns, and rapid urbanisation. It profoundly impacts environmental, resident, and worker health. Rag picking is an informal profession undertaken by a marginalised population of the society, which involves collecting waste from trash cans, streets, and household waste. To assess the burden and the pattern of morbidity, and the occupational factors associated with it, as well as their health-seeking behaviour, the present study was carried out among women rag pickers in Mumbai, India. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted through a mixed-method approach in Mumbai's Chembur and Govandi areas, focusing on women rag pickers aged 15 to 49 years. The research was conducted over a period of three months, during which a total of 150 female rag pickers from individual families were identified and included in the study through purposive sampling. The structured questionnaires gathered quantitative data on socio-demographics, health-seeking behaviour, morbidity, and monthly expenses. The qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions with rag pickers, analysing themes related to rag picking as occupational preference and substance usage factors. Ethical approval from the institute and informed consent from each participant were obtained prior to data collection. RESULTS: Among the cohort of 150 women rag pickers, 67.3% were aged between 15 and 30 years, with 82% belonging to the lower socio-economic class. A notable 43.4% of these women engaged in significant tobacco use, primarily through oral consumption, while about 56.7% of their family members exhibited high substance use, including pan, tobacco, and alcohol. In terms of health-seeking behaviour, 51% refrained from seeking treatment for minor ailments, 29% resorted to home remedies or self-medication, and 20% sought care at hospitals. A morbidity analysis over the past three months revealed prevalent health issues, informing potential interventions. Examination of monthly expenditure patterns unveiled an average income of 9000 INR (130 USD), with a significant 61% allocation towards food and grocery expenses. Qualitative insights indicated that the preference for rag picking was driven by limited alternatives and substance use was influenced by peers and served as a means to cope with stress. These findings underscore distinct health-seeking behaviours, and the unique needs of women rag pickers, providing valuable guidance for targeted policies to enhance their well-being. CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve the well-being and socio-economic conditions of women rag pickers in India. Universal healthcare coverage, community-based initiatives, and social inclusion are vital for addressing their unique challenges and enhancing their quality of life.
RESUMEN
Strict lockdown measures and the pandemic brought immense risks and misery to those already living on the margins of society before the COVID-19 crisis even hit the world. The present study was conducted with rag-pickers, one of the marginalized groups living in Jaipur city of India. The lives of these marginalized populations became more complicated during the pandemic. Due to movement restrictions during the lockdown, access to primary resources was further reduced - from water and sanitation to food, health, and employment, impacting the care and protection they could provide their young children. Rag-pickers, one of the most marginalized communities that face social stigma, struggled to cope with daily life challenges. Young children in such families suffered alongside their parents when the families could not continue their livelihood and lost all sources of income. This paper aims to deepen the understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on the nurturing care of children below eight years of age living in Jaipur, India, accentuating the human rights violations they face right from birth. Many humanitarian relief measures poured in during the lockdown period distributing free food packets and dry rations to the marginalized families. COVID-19 increased parenting challenges for this community. Protection of these families during the ongoing pandemic as well as future pandemics must become a strategic imperative. The paper enumerates feasible social work responses to the issues rag-pickers and their children confront.
RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Lead poisoning is a common health problem in Nepal and there are a limited number of studies on blood lead levels in various population groups. Rag-pickers are those people who visit from house to house to collect the materials that can be recycled and thus earn their livelihood. The present study was designed to evaluate blood lead level (BLL) and its relationship between hematological and biochemical parameters in rag-pickers working in Kathmandu. METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study among 50 ragpickers working in the selected area of Kathmandu was done in May 2019 after obtaining ethical approval from the Nepal health research council. Capillary and venous blood was drawn from each participant after written consent to measure the BLL, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, creatinine, glucose and to test for a complete blood count. Whole blood was also screened for the presence of hemoglobin variants in cases with abnormal red blood cell indices. Data was analyzed using SPSS (Version 20.0). RESULT: All rag pickers were men with mean age of 32.56 ± 12.51 years. The mean BLL among ragpickers was 11.6 ± 7.23 µg/dL. High eosinophil count was found (8.27 ± 5.49 %) in 27 cases (54%) having no significant association with BLL. The mean BLL was higher (12.89 µg/dL) in a cohort of workers who pick and recycle electronic waste. Beta-Thalassemia trait was seen in four cases, all of them had high BLL. No significant association of BLL with the number of years worked by rag picker was found. Similarly, no significant association of BLL with hematological and biochemical parameters was found. CONCLUSION: Rag-pickers working in Kathmandu are at increased risk of lead toxicity. The use of protective gloves, masks, shoes and clothes along with a regular medical examination of this vulnerable group is recommended.