Assessing occupational hazards and factors contributing to the health effects faced by female market traders in Nakasero Market, Central Kampala Uganda (unpublised undergraduate dissertation). Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Informal sector workplaces in Uganda that include: public markets, street side and roadside trade display a wide range of poorly controlled workplace hazards to mostly female traders who dominates the business. Female market trader’s health needs attention since they are more vulnerable to these hazards resulting into various health effects threatening their lives. It is unfortunate that less is done to unearth the occupational hazards faced by female market traders so as to intervene in the situation. OBJECTIVES: To assess the occupational hazards and factors contributing to the health effects among female market traders in Nakasero market, central Kampala. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among female market traders in Nakasero market, central Kampala. Data was collected from market women dealing mainly in selling fresh fruits, vegetables and foods in stalls and road-sides of the market. The study utilized mixed-methods approach with both quantitative and qualitative methods used to analyze the research findings. Information regarding socio-demographic factors, environment and work-related factors, occupational hazards and health effects was collected by face to face, interviewer administered, semi-structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Quantitative data analysis was done by EPIDATA 3.02; STRATA 14 and Microsoft excel software for fine presentation of findings. Qualitative analysis was conducted by applying deductive thematic analysis. Results: 4 key informants and 183 female market traders were enrolled into this study. The mean age of participants was 38 years (SD) 9.37 with majority (36.6%) aged 30 to 39 years. Most of the respondents (43.1%) were married, and had attained primary education (38.2%) as their biggest level of education. The results identified various hazards and health effects faced by female market traders and those included: biological hazards where majority reported suffering from mosquito bites in the market (87.36%) and UTIs’ causing micro-organisms from dirty toilets (80.46%). Physical, ergonomic and psychological hazards were also revealed by the study as a threat to health of female market traders. Factors contributing to the health effects faced by female market traders include: long working hours without rest or sleep (47% of the female market traders spent more than 12 hours in the market), majorityof the respondents were not using PPE (70.49%) and minor though a reasonable number (42%) reported of not washing hands in the market, problems with use of sanitary facilities on issues like few stances, dirty toilets and water insufficiency at times, poor market structures, working space inadequacy and overcrowding in the market.Various health effects/problems reported by female market traders were musculoskeletal pain, malaria, UTIs, respiratory problems, covid-19, skin problems, headache and obesity. Conclusion: Female market traders continue to face occupational hazards and health effects in public markets within Uganda basing on various factors that contributes to a set of health effects. The most pronounced health effects among these market women are musculoskeletal pain, malaria due to frequent bites in the market, UTIs got from unsanitary public toilets in the market, respiratory problems and covid-19. The factors responsible for increased exposure to hazards and contributing to health effects faced by female market trader include not wearing all necessary protective equipment; not washing hands in the market, working overtime, sitting ,problems with use of sanitary facilities on issues like few stances, dirty toilets and water insufficiency at times, poor market structures and working space inadequacy hence overcrowdings in the market. Collaborative effort of the government, market authority (KCCA) and local leaders is needed in intervening to mitigate these hazards faced by female traders in the market.