Better Pay to Support Better Nutrition for Unskilled Laborers

Cause Model

Kawazu and Kim (2019) apply the sufficient component cause model, also known as Rothman's causal pies, in their discussion of mass fainting episodes in Cambodian garment factories. This model emphasizes that multiple contributing factors, or "component causes," interact to produce an outcome. The authors identified several potential factors, such as poor working conditions, malnutrition, psychological stress, and cultural beliefs, which together create sufficient conditions for mass fainting incidents.

Kawazu and Kim (2019) gathered data from different studies and reports to identify different contributing factors. For example, they looked at studies that showed garment workers suffered from malnutrition and anemia due to low wages (not enough money to buy nutritious food to keep up their energy). They also looked at reports of extreme heat and poor ventilation in factories, which can factor into dehydration and exhaustion. Psychological factors like stress and anxiety caused by long working hours and poor mental health support were also considered. Cultural beliefs and potential mass psychogenic illness (MPI) were examined, with some discussion of the possibility of fainting caused by spiritual hauntings or social protest.

The choice of the sufficient component cause model is appropriate, as Kawazu and Kim (2019) point out it is one commonly applied in sociology because it allows for a more holistic understanding of the phenomenon under discussion. Indeed, this approach aligns with modern epidemiological practices that view health outcomes as resulting from multiple causes (Rothman & Greenland, 2005).

The implications for public health policy are that there should be multiple interventions to address the root causes of mass fainting. These interventions could include improving nutritional support for workers, improving factory conditions (by way of better ventilation and more water breaks), addressing mental health issues via stress management programs, better working hours, and better pay.