RESUMEN
This study aimed to analyze the sociodemographic profile, risk factors and health conditions of elderly collectors of recyclable material who worked in an open-air garbage dump, the Structural City Dump in the Federal District, Brazil. The study is cross-sectional and data were collected from a semi-structured instrument, in which sociodemographic, epidemiological and laboratory variables of the research participants were analyzed. The survey demonstrates great vulnerability of this group, highlighting gender differences such as: 64.6% were women, 46.2% were single, 60% reported brown color, 26.2% had more than 4 children, 33.8% had no education level , 52.3 hypertensive and of these 61.9% were women; 83.1% reported exposure to risks with sharp piercing material and 61.5% to contact with decomposing garbage; 56.9% reported accidents with cuts and perforations; 70.8% contact with rodents; 83.1% reported exposure to smoke. This study suggests that the implementation of public and health policies are important to this group, as well as awareness strategies in society, in order to guarantee safe working and living conditions for the health of this population.
Este trabalho objetivou analisar o perfil sociodemográfico, os fatores de risco e as condições de saúde dos idosos catadores de material reciclável que atuavam em um depósito de lixo a céu aberto, o Lixão da cidade Estrutural no Distrito Federal, Brasil. O estudo é transversal e os dados foram coletados a partir de um instrumento semiestruturado, em que foram analisadas variáveis sociodemográficas, epidemiológicas e laboratoriais dos participantes da pesquisa. A pesquisa demonstra grande vulnerabilidade deste grupo, destacando diferenças de gênero como: 64,6% eram mulheres, 46,2% solteiros, 60% referiram cor parda, 26.2 % com mais de 4 filhos, 33,8% sem nenhum grau de escolaridade, 52,3 hipertensos e destes 61,9% são mulheres; 83,1% relataram exposição a riscos com material perfuro cortante e 61,5 % ao contato com lixo em decomposição; 56,9% relataram acidentes com corte e perfuração; 70,8% contato com roedores; 83,1% relataram exposição à fumaça. Este estudo sugere que a implantação de políticas públicas e de saúde são importantes a este grupo, assim como estratégias de sensibilização da sociedade, a fim de garantir condições de trabalho e de vida seguras para a saúde desta população.
RESUMEN
There are millions of waste pickers worldwide that are predominantly located in low- and middle-income countries. They survive on sorting and selling reusable orrecyclable materials discarded by society.While sorting, they are exposed to occupational risks and hazards, including cuts from sharp objects and medical wastes, that could be contaminated by infectious diseases. Because of these exposures, a study was conducted to determine the prevalence of syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections (STI's) among waste pickers. A cross-sectional study using a semi-structured questionnaire and blood samples for serological tests were collected. A total of 1,025 waste pickers were interviewed. Most participants were women (67.54%), without a partner (70.11%), were an average of 40 years old, and had between 3 and 4 children. There were 755 samples collected for syphilis, 791 for HIV, 866 for hepatitis B, and 859 for hepatitis C. Of these samples, 28 (3.70%) waste pickers had reagent serology for syphilis, 6 (0.75%) for HIV; 6 (0.69%) for acute hepatitis B and 1 (0.11%) for hepatitis C. Overall, this study identified the serological status of waste pickers; this information can be used to encourage waste pickers to seek health treatment for STIs and receive education to understand the risks associated with being exposed to medical waste or syringes.
