"In this thesis, low-educated women's health and conditions at work and at home were examined. The overall aim was to gain a deeper understanding of low-educated women's conditions at work and in the domestic sphere, and how this affects their health. Methods used were questionnaires, interviews, observations and direct measurement.
The empirical basis was women and men working in the county of Östergötland. Four studies have been conducted. Each study has its own approach regarding methods and subjects.
The first study was a cross-sectional population-based study including 3,831 gainfully employed women and men. The aim was to study differences in health and exposures between women and men with the same length of education. In the second study women and men performing the same type of work tasks were compared regarding work technique and the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. It was conducted at an industry and included 55 blue-collar workers. The third study was an intervention study that aimed to examine the physical and psychosocial working conditions among a group of female hot food distributors. Their conditions were compared with other women in traditionally heavy work within the same work unit and improved work conditions were suggested. The fourth and final study had an exploratory approach combined with questionnaire data and measurements of aerobic capacity. The aim was to look for factors that are associated with self-rated good health outside the paid work in low-educated, gainfully employed, older women. ..."

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