Siu-Ming Chan, Yuen-Ki Tang, Heng Xu, Jasmine Zhang, Kim Kwok, Wai-Yiu Tam, Wing-Him Tang
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: This study explores the multifaceted inequalities faced by informal waste pickers in Hong Kong, focusing on the impacts of gender and socioeconomic status in shaping their working environment, income, and psychological health. Recognizing that social stratification encompasses a series of structural factors, i.e., gender, race, and socioeconomic status, we aim to fill the gap in existing literature regarding the precarious employment of this population. Methods: Utilizing a comprehensive, territory-wide survey, we analyzed the experiences of male and female waste pickers across different socioeconomic backgrounds. Differences between genders for continuous variables were assessed using the independent samples t-test. Differences across categories defined by gender and socioeconomic status were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, followed by post hoc comparisons with the least significant difference (LSD) method. Results: Our findings indicate that both gender and socioeconomic status significantly influence working environment, occupational income, and psychological health outcomes. Specifically, female waste pickers from lower socioeconomic backgrounds face more adverse working environments, lower income levels, and heightened psychological health risks compared to their higher-status counterparts. Conclusions: These results underscore the urgent need for targeted outreach and tailored healthcare services for vulnerable female waste pickers, as well as social support systems that empower them to negotiate with intermediaries and recycling shop owners. By recognizing their essential role in Hong Kong's urban recycling ecosystem, this study advocates for policies that address these disparities and promote psychological health and social well-being among this marginalized group.
期刊介绍:
Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal (free for readers), which publishes original theoretical and empirical work in the interdisciplinary area of all aspects of medicine and health care research. Healthcare publishes Original Research Articles, Reviews, Case Reports, Research Notes and Short Communications. We encourage researchers to publish their experimental and theoretical results in as much detail as possible. For theoretical papers, full details of proofs must be provided so that the results can be checked; for experimental papers, full experimental details must be provided so that the results can be reproduced. Additionally, electronic files or software regarding the full details of the calculations, experimental procedure, etc., can be deposited along with the publication as “Supplementary Material”.