Health Risk Assessment of Informal Food Vendors: A Comparative Study in Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

According to the best of our knowledge, there are no critical studies to date about associations between the work environment and prevalence of respiratory diseases and their symptoms among urban informal vendors in South Africa. This study followed a risk assessment methodology to assess the risks associated with the occurrence of respiratory health problems among 617 indoor and outdoor market vendors in the inner city of Johannesburg, South Africa. A walkthrough survey using a checklist was conducted in 16 Markets for identification of respiratory risk factors and description of sanitary conditions. Face-to-face interviews were conducted amongst informal food vendors using a previously validated questionnaire to collect information on demographics and occupational and respiratory health. In addition, a single day area air pollution monitoring of PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO, and CO2 was conducted in two stalls (indoor and outdoor). The Chi-squared test of association and frequency distribution were used to analyse data. Female vendors aged between 30 to 39 years dominated the trade. The results revealed that a majority of the vendors’ work shifts are longer than the recommended eight hours per day (73%), six to seven days per week (90%), and most of them have been working for six to ten years (41%). Poor sanitary conditions were observed in 75% of the markets. The concentrations of air pollutants at the outdoor markets were much greater than those in the indoor markets. All air pollution concentrations were below the recommended national and international standards. The risk of outdoor vendors developing any symptoms were extremely greater than those of indoor vendors, especially cooking vendors. Upper respiratory symptoms were the highest amongst the vendors. The results demonstrated a significant association between work-related risk factors, such as type of work location, duration, type of cooking fuel or heat, vendor training, frequency of hand hygiene practice, and using of a mask, and the upper respiratory symptoms. Based on the findings, there is a need for formalization of the trade, improvement in infrastructure, respiratory health care assessments, and sustainable educational programs.

Strengthening Urban Informal Trading and Improving the Health of Vendors: An Integrated Management Model

“…The informal vendor training was found with a cold at p = 0.003, sore throat ( p = 0.021), and nasal congestion ( p = 0.023). The frequency of hand hygiene practice and frequency of mask use was p < 0.001 [ 16 ].…”

“…The current South African literature on the occupational settings of informal vending and conceptual models (and the findings of the recent study) was used for the development of this model ( Figure 1 ), thus including the requirements of a healthy workplace model by the WHO. The majority of the findings in the recent study were published [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ] excluding the content of the model and recommendations.…”

“…The results were compared between the population of indoor and outdoor food vendors. Following a total sampling technique, the COJ’s inner-city health department’s (DOH) 2022 database (serving as the sampling source for this study and yielding 16 informal vendor marketplaces and 617 informal food vendors) was used as the sampling source for this study [ 12 , 16 ]. The total sampling of the limited population size of recorded informal food vendors that operated in approved markets within the study area made this type of sampling technique appropriate for the study.…”

“…For the air pollution exposure assessment, five air pollutants were examined: particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2 ), Sulphur Dioxide (SO 2 ), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) [ 15 , 16 ]. The Radiello passive sampler was used to detect NO 2 and SO 2 , an EXTECH air quality monitor for CO and CO 2 , and the GilAir pump to collect samples for ambient PM 2.5 concentrations.…”

“…The Radiello passive sampler was used to detect NO 2 and SO 2 , an EXTECH air quality monitor for CO and CO 2 , and the GilAir pump to collect samples for ambient PM 2.5 concentrations. A total of 41 air samples were taken from the indoor and outdoor market: eight PM 2.5 area samples, twenty-five personal PM 2.5 samples, and two samples of NO 2 , SO 2 , CO, and CO 2 [ 15 , 16 ]. The air sampling program was conducted on the same day in the winter season to establish each pollutant exposure during the respiratory health risk season according to the literature due to the weather conditions.…”