SOCIOECONOMIC DETERMINANTS AND VULNERABILITY AMONG WORKERS IN THE BRICKMAKING INDUSTRY

Abstract

Tlajomulco de Zúñiga is one of the municipalities in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area with the highest number of brick kilns. Artisanal brick is produced from organic materials, mainly clay, which, after being molded and sun-dried, is placed in artisanal kilns fueled primarily by firewood. Workers’ pulmonary health is affected by continuous exposure to gases, smoke, and dust generated by combustion. Likewise, in this population—characterized by unstable incomes that depend on production—socioeconomic determinants constitute an important element. This article examines the economic and social circumstances of brick workers in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, considering length of employment and its relationship with the presence of respiratory symptoms and changes in lung function. To determine educational level, working conditions, and access to services and housing, structured surveys were administered to 43 workers. The Social Lag Index (SLI) and the CONEVAL (2020) criteria were used as references to calculate an SLI. In addition, nonparametric tests and descriptive statistics were employed to associate reported respiratory symptoms with spirometry results. Logistic regression showed that the likelihood of reporting respiratory symptoms increases by 4.8% for each additional year worked. This finding demonstrates that length of employment should be considered a risk factor for the subjective perception of disease; meanwhile, social lag should be regarded as a social determinant that prolongs exposure to risk.