Condições socioeconômicas, de saúde e hábitos de vida dos catadores de material reciclável

Abstract

The social, economic, health and lifestyle conditions of collectors of recyclable material from two coops in Guanambi, Brazil, are analyzed through a descriptive, analytic and exploratory research. All collectors were interviewed by a half-structured questionnaire. Predominant age bracket lay between 30 and 58 years (80%) (p= 0.007), brown colored (55%) (p= 0.02), married (45%) (p= 0.02), with 2 - 3 children (55%) (p= 0.03). Collectors informed that they started work when they were under 18 years old and received a month wage of up to one minimum wage, by collecting recycling material (75%) (p= 0.02). With regard to health conditions, 75% stated that had individual protection equipment (EPI) (p= 0.02), but 80% (p= 0.02) failed to use it, insisting that their work does not cause health problems (75%) (p= 0.02). It should be underscored that collectors should improve their earnings and life quality and use their equipments to minimize health risks.