Occupational health risks and etiologies among the Jalari community of Northern District of Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

The perceived health risks of fishermen in India have not been studied in any satisfactory detail by scholars. The paper examines the occupational risks for fishermen under the categories of a) injuries and fractures due to falls; b) illness/morbidity due to the equipment used; c) musculoskeletal disorders due to the nature of the work; d) morbidity due to the timing of work; e) habits and addictions as part of their work socialization. Further, the stress being experienced by the fisherfolk and the perceived consequences of such stress on their physical and mental health is also not dealt with earlier. This paper examines the aspect of the double burden of increased morbidity and reduced economic returns on the fisherfolk, as well as the consequences of economic stress on the social health of the people in terms of strained relationships with community members both within and outside of the family.