MUNOZ C, Augusto and CHOIS L, Pilar M.. Health and informal trade in Cauca, Colombia. Rev. Fac. Nac. Salud Pública [online]. 2013, vol. 31, n. 1, pp. 09-18. ISSN 0120-386X.

OBJECTIVE: to describe the health and working conditions of informal traders in five municipalities of the Cauca department, Colombia, in 2011. METHODOLOGY: a descriptive and cross-sectional study, conducted using 223 subjects participating in a national standardized survey. RESULTS: most individuals (80%) had health insurance; however, they did not pay pension and did not benefit from occupational hazard insurance. Over 70% of them used mobile phones and had access to water and electricity services, yet had little access to gas or drainage. Likewise, 60% of the participants said they were in good health, and over 50% of them considered their workplace safe. Milk vendors were the most content (92.3%) in their working conditions. DISCUSSION: the findings related to sex, age, level of educational, marital status, etc., are consistent with those of a similar study conducted on the same demographic at a national level. Similarly, it was found that no organized groups of informal traders have been established in the municipalities under study, which may hinder the improvement of these individuals' conditions.