THE three-hour trip from Quito to Slgchos in Ecuador a Andean highlands winds along steep nafrow gorges, down green slopes and through hillside past tires and crops Dr Patricia Coslales has travelled this bumpy road often over the past two years. Her colleagues at the Health -research and Consultancy Centre (CEAS) — Drs Jaime Brellh and Arturo Campanas — accompany her on many of these trips to meet the women of this mestizo farming community of some 2.000, families

The CEAS team has also been travelling closer to its base In Quito to meet two other groups of women : ad mlnlstrative workers in gov ernment offices and textile factory workers .Despite the different work environments, all of these women find their health affected by conditions peculiar to their gender They all face heavy domestic duties on top xil daytime occupations and experience significant so clal Inequities compared with men.

In a project supported by IDRC CEAS set out to analyze the most important factors as soclated with gender, lifestyle and working conditions that determine the health stains of working women

The dEAS team surveyed 270 women office workers. In rural areas CEAS surveyed an other 27Q women, comparing those In Slgchos with those in a community of the tropical forest region of eastern Ecuador

The team surveyed 315 women In the textile and gar ment industry, which relies on a predominantly female work force. But project leader Jaime Brellh said they had to approach dozens of medium sized factories before finding nine owners willing to partici pate "Their factories are like feudal castles — entrance inside is very difficult '

The CEAS researchers followed a model of participatory research in which the woi^eii assisted In administering ques tlonnaires about their living and working < ondiuons health problems and access lo health i are

Decaying Workplace

A visit lo offices at the ministry of health revealed a build

Ing from the 1960s with inadequate lighting and overcrowded offices, and poorly maintained furniture. The floors and carpets are deteriorating 'and cleaning is infrequent.

Adriana Insuasti. president of the secretaries' association, said that only a few months ago there were 115 women employees. "But because of government downsizing, we are now only 40. with triple the workload." she said.

“We have found massive levels of stress in the office environment." said Arturo Campanas.

On top of a poor working environment, the women office employees perform virtually all household tasks without any help from husbands. The health impact is seen not only in stress but In related mental health problems, anemia and increaseri menstruation.

. In the garment factories a high correlation was found between stress level and length of service At a morning meeting with women workers in the factory cafeteria, a woman complained that constant pressure from female supervisors to Increase production was one source ' of stress. "There Is no communication between workers and supervisors. They make us nervous. Ih^ get on your nerves.' she

Other health Impacts for the garment workers are felt In back. leg. neck and arm pain from hours of sitting at machinery, and respiratory problems from high concen-IraUoMa of dust and fluff from textiles and thread.

Is noise a problem?' Jaime Brellh asked the women in the cafeteria. "Year came the resounding response

NEALE MacMillan. Associate Editor of IDRC Reports.