Determinants of Disease Risks Among Waste Pickers: The Role of PPE Availability, Compliance, Workplace Conditions, and Worker Behavior

R. Azizah; Juliana Jalaludin; Edi Winarko; Sudarmaji Sudarmaji; Arifqah Dhiya Ulhaq; Mifaidah Kusumawati; Zaneta Aaqilah  Salsabila; Zafira Nuha  Naura; Novi Dian  Arfiani; Agus Bintara  Birawida; Edza Aria  Wikurendra; Fariha Zahra Aghnia

doi:10.60074/visikes.v25i2.17652

Authors

R. Azizah Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6741-5572
Juliana Jalaludin Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Edi Winarko Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga, Jl. Mulyorejo, Surabaya, Indonesia
Sudarmaji Sudarmaji Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia
Arifqah Dhiya Ulhaq Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia
Mifaidah Kusumawati EnviroEarth Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Surabaya, Indonesia
Zaneta Aaqilah Salsabila Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia
Zafira Nuha Naura EnviroEarth Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Surabaya, Indonesia
Novi Dian Arfiani Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia
Agus Bintara Birawida Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Hasanuddin, Indonesia
Edza Aria Wikurendra Faculty of Health, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya, Indonesia
Fariha Zahra Aghnia Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60074/visikes.v25i2.17652

Keywords:

Personal Protective Equipment, Waste Sorter, Environmental Health, Occupational Diseases, Health Education, Workplace Safety

Abstract

Waste pickers face a high risk of diseases due to exposure to waste and would exacerbated by limited use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and inadequate working conditions. This study is part of a community service program aimed at improving health protection for workers in the informal sector. A quantitative cross-sectional design using Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) was employed. Data were collected at the Arista Langgeng waste scrapper site in 2025 through structured questionnaires and field observations involving 60 waste pickers. The analysis was performed using SmartPLS software with the bootstrapping technique to test the significance of relationships among variables. Results showed that PPE availability and compliance significantly affected workers' attitudes (β = 0.301; p = 0.008) and practices (β = 0.595; p = 0.000). Environmental conditions strongly influenced attitudes (β = 0.518; p = 0.000). Attitude was linked to typhoid risk (β = 0.515; p = 0.005), while practice affected diarrhea risk (β = 0.389; p = 0.009). PPE use indirectly reduced these risks through attitude and practice as mediators. In conclusion, promoting PPE availability and compliance among Arista Langgeng waste pickers is vital for reducing diarrhea and typhoid risk through improved occupational health behavior

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