Social Determinants of Workers' Health in Central America

Abstract

This communication summarizes the available data on work-related determinants of health in Central America. The Central American working population is young and moving from agriculture toward industry and services. Ethnicity, gender, migration, subemployment and precarious work, informality, rural conditions, low-level educational, poverty, ubiquitous worksite health hazards, insufficient occupational health services, low labor inspection density, and weak unions define the constellation of social determinants of workers' health in Central America. Data are, however, scanty both for hazards and work-related illnesses and injuries. Governments and industries have the responsibility of opening decent work opportunities, especially for those facing multiple inequalities in social determinants of health. A first step would be the ratification and implementation of the ILO Convention (187) on occupational safety and health by the seven national governments of the region.

Socioeconomic Inequalities and Occupational Injury Disability in China: A Population-Based Survey

“…Our study findings were consisted with previous studies [ 11 , 14 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. Gender was an important risk factor for OID [ 13 ].…”

“…Previous research suggested that age, education level, insurance, gender and job position were associated with occupational injuries in developed countries [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. In developing countries, studies suggested that poverty, educational level and work training were related to occupational injuries [ 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

Working conditions and health in Central America: a survey of 12 024 workers in six countries

“…These surveys focused primarily on the formal sector because this sector is more accessible from a methodological viewpoint and because the formal sector is traditionally the main or only sector addressed by ministries of labour in Latin America 3. In Central America, the informal sector, including those employed in microenterprises, homes and the self-employed, was reported to be about half of the labour force in 199916 and 64% in 2006 9. Therefore, data systems on working conditions and health in Central America must address also informal workers.…”

A first-ever dedicated comprehensive review of incidence of epilepsy in South America and Caribbean

“…These are not unlikely since exposure of any given population to risk factors may vary over time and may also differ between urban and rural environments; that in turn may affect incidence of epilepsy. 22 In comparing South American epilepsy incidence with that for the Central America, differences were noted (currently unpublished, D Bhalla 2016), which may further support that even similar-looking populations (regions/countries) may differ [23][24][25][26] in terms of their nature and degree of exposure. The fact, page 5-6 that metabias was only significant for urban-rural milieu (p = 0.01) may further substantiate this.…”