HIV and TB Workplace Program for Street Vendors: A Situational Analysis

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Public Health
• Health Systems Research

Background:

• Informal economy workers, particularly street vendors in South Africa, lack access to occupational health services.
• Work conditions expose street vendors to heightened risks of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB).
• Existing occupational health services in South Africa are fragmented and do not adequately cover informal sector employees.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a qualitative risk assessment among street vendors in South Africa.
• To identify occupational health hazards and healthcare access barriers faced by street vendors.
• To explore gender-specific vulnerabilities related to HIV exposure among female street vendors.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative risk assessment conducted among street vendors.
• Focus group discussions held with participants.
• Thematic analysis of data extracted from discussions.

Main Results:

• Street vendors face numerous occupational health hazards.
• There is a significant lack of workplace-based HIV and TB services.
• Poor overall access to healthcare services was identified, with females at higher risk for HIV due to gender inequalities.

Conclusions:

• Comprehensive, gender-sensitive occupational health and safety training, including HIV and TB prevention, is essential for street vendors.
• Enhancing healthcare services for the informal economy is vital for achieving Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals.
• The health system requires significant improvements to effectively serve informal workers and mitigate health risks.