Risk Behaviours among Women in Artisanal Mining of Mineral Substances on Sites in Kolwezi, DRC

Abstract

Artisanal mining is currently part of the main mining activities in DRC. However, it's marked by problems such as the exploitation of vulnerable people in this case women and children. This study is carried out with the aim of identifying risky behaviour among women in the exercise of their activities within artisanal mine in Kolwezi. It is a cross-sectional descriptive study of 374 women working in the 11 artisanal mining sites between January 2017 and May 2017. The data was analyzed using software Epi Info 7.2.1.0. The most prevalent risk behaviours observed were lack of wearing PPE 93,32% of the surveys, the use of mine water to ensure cleanliness of hands and utensils by 74,94% of inquiries, the seated position on the ores during grinding and sorting operations by 68,18% of surveys.  These behaviours expose these women to the risks of irradiation and intoxication, given the levels of radiotoxic substances in these ores, which can be revealed somatically by disorders of several types.