Author ORCID Identifier
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-15-2020
Publication Title
International Perspective in Psychology
Volume
9
Issue
2
First Page
127
Last Page
130
Abstract
Vector-borne communicable diseases cause more than 700,000 deaths annually (World Health Organization, 2019). Despite various efforts, there has been no change in mortality rates due to communicable diseases worldwide (World Health Organization, 2019). Most communicable diseases have no cure and can attain epidemic status quickly. Therefore, prevention is critical in reducing disease transmission. Communicable disease transmission as an occupational health hazard is often ignored in work psychology research and public health policy. Using experience sampling methods, Saxena (2015) found that work and nonwork behaviors associated with rice farming in South Asia increase exposure to Japanese encephalitis. Owing to the extreme urgency in reducing the spread of communicable disease, this policy brief uses Saxena’s (2015) findings to provide intervention recommendations for communicable disease control in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 3, 8, and 17. Overall, the brief creates a call to action for health organizations to consider work-related occupational hazards in policies for disease control, and for labor and work and organizational bodies to expand research and practice to incorporate public health phenomenon in psychological research.
Impact and Implications
Saxena (2015) found that agricultural work may pose an occupational health hazard for workers in poverty by exposing individuals to communicable diseases. This article provides recommendations for reducing the risk for contracting Japanese encephalitis in poor agricultural workers aligned with United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 17 (Partnerships; Government, Work Psychology, and Health).
Recommended Citation
Saxena, M. & Burke, M.M., (202, December 15). Communicable diseases as occupational hazards for agricultural workers: Using experience sampling methods for promoting public health. International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation, 9(2), 127-130. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ipp0000129
Comments
“This version of the article may not completely replicate the final authoritative version published in International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation at http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ipp0000129. It is not the version of record and is therefore not suitable for citation. Please do not copy or cite without the permission of the author(s).”