title: Women waste pickers: living conditions, work, and health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To know the elements of work, health, and living conditions of women who pick recyclable waste and are members of a waste cooperative in a town of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study with seven subjects. Data were collected through participative observation, semi structured interview, and a focus group from July to August of 2013. The data were subjected to content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following thematic categories emerged: Women's work, informality and precariousness; Experiences of job satisfaction; and Working conditions and health: experiences with accidents, illness and health services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that the women who collect recyclable material are exposed to precarious work conditions and potential health risks, such as work overload, accidents, illness, and social insecurity, and that nurses are responsible for promoting actions that ensure the health and inclusion of these workers.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Departamento de Enfermagem, Grupo de Pesquisa Trabalho, Saúde, Educação e Enfermagem. Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: Alexa Pupiara Flores
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Departamento de Enfermagem, Grupo de Pesquisa Trabalho, Saúde, Educação e Enfermagem. Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: Carmem Lúcia Colomé
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.affiliation: Prefeitura Municipal de Santa Maria. Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Nunes da Silva
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria. Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: Natiellen Quatrin
authors.initials: NQ
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Departamento de Enfermagem, Grupo de Pesquisa Trabalho, Saúde, Educação e Enfermagem. Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: Francine Cassol
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Prestes
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitário Franciscano (UNIFRA), Programa de Residência Multiprofissional em Saúde. Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: Juliana Zancan
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Tonel
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health; D059027:Recycling; D012924:Social Conditions; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities