The problems of women in agricelture

SUMMARYIn Turkey where the economy still depends mainly on agriculture, 82,0 % of theworking women population is employed in agriculture. In this study, it is aimed todetermine the socio-demographic features, health problems and working conditions ofthe women agriculture labors in Diyarbakir.Our study is a sectional research which has been made on 225 women in total inAugust- October, 2005 period by face-to-face interviews.60,4 % of the women are in the 10-19 age group, 52,0 % of them are illiterate,23,1 % of them do not know Turkish, 98,7 % of them speak in Kurdish among eachother. 41,4% of the women do not have social security.The women have got married at the age of 17,3 on average. 59,7 % of the 72married women have not been to health control in their last pregnancy, 47,2 % of themhave given birth at home. While 64,0 % of the married women do not use any method,RIA has been the most preferred method with 15,3 %.In the last 15 days 23,9 % of these women were bit by scorpions, snakes or insects, 16,3% of them were exposed to sunstroke. Food poisoning and diarrhoea were seen at thesame percentages, 14,1 %.80,0 % of the tents? toilets are at outdoors. It is determined that while 71,4 % ofthe toilets of the residences in townships are hygienic, 70,0 % of the toilets in villagesand any of the toilets of tents are not hygienic.74,2 % of women are seasonal agriculture workers. Their daily average workingduration is 10,5 hours, and annually is 3,9 months.51,6 % of the women want to work in a permanent job, yet 91,1 % of them donothing else other than houseworks when the season ends.To create convenient residential conditions, to provide drinking and utilizingwater, to build hygienic toilets, bathrooms, and kitchens is a significant necessity. 1ststep health foundations in the region must be put into service for the temporaryagriculture workers, and the necessary legal arrangements must be done in order toinclude these workers into the social security system.Key words: Agriculture, women, problems8