Establishing Priorities for Occupational Health Research among Women Working in the Maquiladora Industry

In order to estimate the prevalence of potentially hazardous exposures and the frequencies of, types of, and reasons for job transitions among women working in the Mexican maquiladora industry, an age- and occupation-stratified sample of 479 women, aged 16-40 years, living in 12 neighborhoods in Tijuana were interviewed. Considerable transition between industrial sectors was observed. About 20% had left their last job in a maquiladora because of hazardous or stressful working conditions and work-related health problems. Chemical exposures, ergonomic risks, noise, and stress were reported. The sociodemographic characteristics and occupational risk profile of the maquiladora workforce, considered in the broader context of Mexico's development, indicate that occupational health research in the maquiladora should focus on musculoskeletal injuries, adverse reproductive outcomes, neurologic damage, and mental illness. Appropriate methods for investigating occupational risks in a highly mobile workforce will need to be developed in order to avoid sampling bias and identify appropriate comparison groups.