Social vulnerabilities of female waste pickers in Brasília, Brazil.

Worldwide, waste pickers are exposed to adverse health effects resulting from hazards at work. This study aimed to identify possible gender disparities among waste pickers. A quantitative cross-sectional epidemiological study, using semi-structured data was conducted in Estrutural's dumpsite, Brasília, Brazil. It included 1,025 waste pickers, with 67% being female. Most of them lived without partners (73.7%), have 3 to 4 children (47.8%), and have a lower monthly income (62.6%<USD 125) when compared to men (p < 0,001). Women also suffered from worse health outcomes than men: hypertension- 26.3%; 16.2% (p < 0.001), bronchitis- 16.4%; 9.7% (p 0,003), diarrhea- 28.3; 17.0 and worms- 16.0; 5.5% (p < 0,001), respectively. This study highlighted the existence of gender differences among waste pickers, which suggests a greater vulnerability of the female population who need policies, programs and awareness of society to ensure safe working and living conditions both for them and their children.