Condiciones de trabajo y salud de los recicladores del Arenal, Cuenca 2017

Abstract

Back ground. The mortality caused by professional diseases according to occupational hazards of IESS, determine that an 86% of 2000 annual deaths in our country are caused by occupational diseases. It is worrying because at national level and especially in Cuenca, there are more recyclers. The occupational activity of informal character and the occupational conditions affect their health and the health of their relatives caused by exposure to harmful atmosphere. General objective: Determine the working conditions and health of the recyclers from Arenal-Cuenca. 2017. Methodology: Descriptive, transversal and correlational study of a universe of 500 recyclers (the sample is of 139), the techniques used are quantitative: survey, physical assessment and psychological assessment; and qualitative: documented review and observation of the person. For the information processing of the quantitative variables was applied the program SPSS, version 22 (presentation in tables and graphics). For the qualitative was applied the dialectical hermeneutics. Results: The predominant sex is female (about 71,2%). On the other hand, the young adult is the predominant (about 25,2%). There are precarious working conditions that are characterized by: harmful work atmosphere, exposure to harmful physical (34,5%), chemical (12,9%) and biological (52,5%) processes, rudimentary means of work, exposure to decomposition of garbage, the non-use of means of protection (60,3%), about 89,9% earn a low salary (between 100-200 dollars per month) and there are profiles diagnosed of disease characterized by: arterial hypertension (6,5%), low back pain (2,2%), gastritis (2,9%) and mental illness like depression (20,9%) or stress (57%). Conclusion. There are precarious and deteriorating working conditions on recyclers which results in the aforementioned disease profile.