Idosos catadores de materiais recicláveis em Brasília, Brasil: perfil epidemiológico e produção de material educativo.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the sociodemographic profile, occupational risks and health conditions of 65 elderly collectors of recyclable materials who worked in an open-air garbage dump, the Estrutural City Dump in the Federal District, Brazil. Method: The study is cross-sectional and data were collected from a structured instrument, in which sociodemographical and epidemiological variables of the research participants were analyzed. Results: The research demonstrates great vulnerability of this group, standing out: 64.6% were women, 46.2% single, 60% reported brown color, 26.2% with more than 4 children, 33.8% without any level of education, 52.3 hypertensive and of these 61.9% are women; 83.1% reported exposure to risks with sharp piercing material and 61.5% to contact with decomposing garbage; 56.9% reported accidents with cuts and perforations; 70.8% contact with rodents; 83.1% reported exposure to smoke. Products developed: (1) article “Occupational risks in elderly collectors of recyclable materials”, submitted for publication to Revista de Enfermagem da USP; (2) Course project in EAD format “Solid waste and the role of recyclable material collectors”. Conclusion: This study suggests that the implementation of public and health policies are important to this group, as well as awareness strategies in society, in order to guarantee safe working and living conditions for the health of this population.