Abstract

MUNOZ C, Augusto  and  CHOIS L, Pilar M.. Health and informal trade in Cauca, Colombia. Rev. Fac. Nac. Salud Pública [online]. 2013, vol.31, n.1, pp.09-18. ISSN 0120-386X.

OBJECTIVE: to describe the health and working conditions of informal traders in five municipalities of the Cauca department, Colombia, in 2011. METHODOLOGY: a descriptive and cross-sectional study, conducted using 223 subjects participating in a national standardized survey. RESULTS: most individuals (80%) had health insurance; however, they did not pay pension and did not benefit from occupational hazard insurance. Over 70% of them used mobile phones and had access to water and electricity services, yet had little access to gas or drainage. Likewise, 60% of the participants said they were in good health, and over 50% of them considered their workplace safe. Milk vendors were the most content (92.3%) in their working conditions. DISCUSSION: the findings related to sex, age, level of educational, marital status, etc., are consistent with those of a similar study conducted on the same demographic at a national level. Similarly, it was found that no organized groups of informal traders have been established in the municipalities under study, which may hinder the improvement of these individuals' conditions.

Keywords : job; employment; informal; unemployment.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )