Abstract

VARGAS GUTIERREZ, Alejandro  and  RESTREPO OSORIO, Hernando. Trabajo infantil y juvenil en una plaza de mercados de Medellín, año 2000. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2002, vol.28, n.3, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3127.

To know the conditions of infantile and juvenile work in a market place of Medellín, Colombia, in the year 2000, the University of Antioquia conducted a descriptive and cross-sectional study of a randomized sample proportional to sex among 250 children and adolescents, who devoted to the transportation of goods and worked also as sellers and assistants in a fruit and vegetables stand. A survey was done to know their socioeconomic conditions. An anthropometric measurement of height and weight was made that allowed the determination of the nutritional classification. Besides, an ergonomic analysis of each job was carried out, in which variables such as working environment, physical load and psychosocial conditions at work were grouped. 82.58 % of the sample were males. Average age among males was 14.3 with a standard deviation of 2.5 years old, whereas for females it was 12.6 with a standard deviation of 2.5 years old. It was found that 46,4 % of the total of the sample were not studying and those who were (53.6 %) had very low educational levels. 100 % of the working children came from poor strata of the city and 45.4 % contributed direct or indirectly to home expenses. Females worked 46,7 % hours a week with a standard deviation of 21.2 hours. The average for males was 46.0 hours with a standard deviation of 15.7 hours. Males' monthly incomes were equivalent to 1.17 times the minimum legal salary standing in Colombia in the year 2000 (US $128.00). Females received an average monthly salary equivalent to 0.57 of the minimum salary. As to the nutritional status, it was observed some degree of malnutrition in 72.0 % of males and in 65.1 % of females. The average height and weight were under the standards internationally recommended for boys, girls and adolescents All the infantile and juvenile jobs at the market place that were evaluated by using an ergonomic instrument validated in Colombia showed high physical and psychosocial loads, which proves that it is not valid the argument that jobs at the market place are suitable for children and adolescents

Keywords : CHILDLABOR; ADOLESCENCE; NUTRITION DISORDERS; SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS; HUMAN ENGINEERING; COLOMBIA; WORKING CONDITIONS.