Harsh Working Conditions and Poor Eating Habits: Health-Related Concerns of Female Head Porters (Kayayei) in the Mallam Atta Market, Accra, Ghana

Samuel Harrenson Nyarko,Abdul Majeed Tahiru

doi:10.1155/2018/6201837

Abstract

Background The kaya business is known to pose significant health-related risks to female migrants. This study sought to explore the health-related concerns of female head porters in the Mallam Atta market, Accra, Ghana. Methods A qualitative study was conducted in which twenty female head porters at the Mallam Atta market in Accra were interviewed. A thematic analysis was performed and the emerging themes were presented and supported with quotations from the respondents. Results Poor accommodation and eating habits, harsh working conditions, and lack of knowledge about health conditions exposed the respondents to several health-related concerns like neck pains, skin rashes, malaria, cholera, and stomach ache among other infections. The popular means of seeking health care was through purchasing drugs from pharmacies or drug peddlers instead of health facilities. Financial constraints, lack of faith in the National Health Insurance Scheme, and long waiting periods at the health facilities militated against seeking appropriate health care at the hospitals and clinics. Conclusion Political willpower needs to be strengthened for poverty reduction strategies such as training of hairdressing, dress and soap making, and shea butter processing for women from the Northern regions in order to ameliorate their livelihoods and/or reduce migration to the south.

Highlights

The kaya business is known to pose significant health-related risks to female migrants
Opare [5] and Agarwal et al [7] assert that most of these female migrants who travel down to the south and to the middle belts are young ladies who are mostly between the ages of 10 and 35 and have limited or no formal education. These female migrants have no prospects of gaining employment in the formal sector in the cities [8] and, for this reason, they engage in the kaya business as a short-term means of BioMed Research International earning income and saving enough money to enter into other profitable ventures in the future [7]
Apart from the kaya business, some of them engaged in other activities like washing and cleaning clothes in households for a fee, washing plates for food vendors, and sewing among others

Summary

Introduction

The kaya business is known to pose significant health-related risks to female migrants. Political willpower needs to be strengthened for poverty reduction strategies such as training of hairdressing, dress and soap making, and shea butter processing for women from the Northern regions in order to ameliorate their livelihoods and/or reduce migration to the south Global economic issues such as unemployment, low-income levels, inequitable distribution of resources, forced marriage, family breakdown, lack of education, and peer influence have forced a lot of people to move from their places of origin, mostly rural areas, to major cities instead of staying with their loved ones [1]. These female migrants have no prospects of gaining employment in the formal sector in the cities [8] and, for this reason, they engage in the kaya business as a short-term means of BioMed Research International earning income and saving enough money to enter into other profitable ventures in the future [7]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion