To read this content please select one of the options below:

Slum dwellers' occupational activities and health implications

Alexander Preko (University of Professional Studies, Accra, Ghana) (Migration and Tourism, Third Sector Foundation, Accra, Ghana)
Anthony Nkrumah Agyabeng (University of Professional Studies, Accra, Ghana)
James Kwame Mensah (University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana)

Health Education

ISSN: 0965-4283

Article publication date: 25 August 2021

Issue publication date: 28 October 2021

258

Abstract

Purpose

The literature has acknowledged that good health is a crucial component of well-being. This study explores the country-specific understanding of slum dwellers' occupational activities and their environmental behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the environmentally responsible behavior model, the study utilized exploratory qualitative approach to purposely sample 35 respondents, who responded to health-related behaviors through in-depth interviews.

Findings

Findings show that respondents are engaged in diverse socio-economic occupational activities such as selling of cooked and uncooked food in polythene bags, selling of sachet water and burning the waste generated from these activities in the slum environment. In addition, the study found specific occupational activities of masons, carpenters, tilers, salon beauticians, scrap dealers and unhygienic waste disposal in the slums. Finally, this study uncovered divided opinions in terms of respondents' environmental responsibility and awareness of environmental ramifications. Therefore, issues such as health hazards, unhealthy environment and soil deterioration are common at the slum dwellings.

Research limitations/implications

The study findings and the conclusion drawn cannot be generalized to represent the entire population of slum dwellers in Ghana due to the qualitative methodology employed.

Practical implications

This study revealed a country-specific understanding of the environmentally responsible behavior of slum dwellers based on their occupational activities, which can inform health policies.

Originality/value

The outcome of this study advanced contextual culturally specific understanding, concerning health-related behavior of slum dwellers, which is important to policymakers and practitioners in contexts.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The project was privately funded with personal funds. The authors are also extending as a special appreciation to the Assemblyman and interviewees for their support during household selection and other administrative support. The authors would like to thank the proofreader: Veronica Adjei including the Editor and the two anonymous reviewers for their insightful and constructive comments from which the present paper greatly improved. Any remaining errors or deficiencies are solely the authors' responsibility.

Citation

Preko, A., Nkrumah Agyabeng, A. and Mensah, J.K. (2021), "Slum dwellers' occupational activities and health implications", Health Education, Vol. 121 No. 6, pp. 632-648. https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-05-2021-0077

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles