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The `dop' system, alcohol abuse and social control amongst farm workers in South Africa: a public health challenge

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  • London, Leslie

Abstract

Many farm workers in South Africa continue to live and work under adverse conditions that are the legacy of apartheid policies. Despite its official prohibition, the arrangement by which workers are given alcohol as a benefit of employment, known as the `dop' system, appears to persist. Even though it is a minority of farms that currently actively practice the dop system, the ramifications of the historical institutionalisation of massive alcohol consumption are widespread. Heavy alcohol consumption is not only directly injurious to the health of farm workers and their families, but places them at risk to various social and environmental hazards. This is illustrated in a case of pesticide poisoning in which 24 workers were poisoned when given wine contaminated with the carbamate insecticide aldicarb. The case illustrates (i) the ongoing application of the dop system on farms in South Africa and (ii) the interaction between social factors and chemical exposures amongst farm workers. Public perceptions about the natural tendencies of `coloured' people to drink heavily have much to do with perpetuating the dop system, and reinforcing a system geared towards the social control of rural farm workers and their families. The dop system poses a major challenge to the public health authorities in South Africa who are charged with the task of restructuring health services to address the human rights and health needs of marginal farming communities within a primary health care framework.

Suggested Citation

  • London, Leslie, 1999. "The `dop' system, alcohol abuse and social control amongst farm workers in South Africa: a public health challenge," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 48(10), pages 1407-1414, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:48:y:1999:i:10:p:1407-1414
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    Cited by:

    1. Wendee M. Wechsberg & Isa van der Drift & Brittni N. Howard & Bronwyn Myers & Felicia A. Browne & Courtney Peasant Bonner & Tara Carney & Jacqueline Ndirangu & Yukiko Washio, 2022. "Gender and Context Matter: Behavioral and Structural Interventions for People Who Use Alcohol and Other Drugs in Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-24, July.
    2. Morojele, Neo K. & London, Leslie & Olorunju, Steve A. & Matjila, Maila J. & Davids, Adlai S. & Rendall-Mkosi, Kirstie M., 2010. "Predictors of risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancies among women in an urban and a rural area of South Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(4), pages 534-542, February.
    3. J. Phillip Gossage & Cudore L. Snell & Charles D. H. Parry & Anna-Susan Marais & Ronel Barnard & Marlene De Vries & Jason Blankenship & Soraya Seedat & Julie M. Hasken & Philip A. May, 2014. "Alcohol Use, Working Conditions, Job Benefits, and the Legacy of the “Dop” System among Farm Workers in the Western Cape Province, South Africa: Hope Despite High Levels of Risky Drinking," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-19, July.
    4. Melissa Lubbe & Corné Van Walbeek & Nicole Vellios, 2017. "The Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Its Impact on a Child’s Classroom Performance: A Case Study of a Rural South African School," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-10, August.
    5. Norris, Alison H. & Kitali, Amani J. & Worby, Eric, 2009. "Alcohol and transactional sex: How risky is the mix?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(8), pages 1167-1176, October.
    6. Lesch, Elmien & Adams, Arlene R., 2016. "Couples living with and around alcohol abuse: A study of a farmworker community in the Cape Winelands, South Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 167-174.
    7. Watt, Melissa H. & Eaton, Lisa A. & Choi, Karmel W. & Velloza, Jennifer & Kalichman, Seth C. & Skinner, Donald & Sikkema, Kathleen J., 2014. "“It's better for me to drink, at least the stress is going away”: Perspectives on alcohol use during pregnancy among South African women attending drinking establishments," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 119-125.
    8. Watt, Melissa H. & Aunon, Frances M. & Skinner, Donald & Sikkema, Kathleen J. & Kalichman, Seth C. & Pieterse, Desiree, 2012. "“Because he has bought for her, he wants to sleep with her”: Alcohol as a currency for sexual exchange in South African drinking venues," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(7), pages 1005-1012.

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