The Symphony of Wear and Tear: “Kangaroo disease” and Hidden Wear and Tear in Sugarcane Cutters

Purpose: To analyze the social determination process of workers' health in sugarcane cutting in Alagoas, Brazil. Methodological design: Case study with thematic analysis. This research uses theoretical premises from workers' health and collective health, with a focus on historical-critical theory. The methodology involved selecting a specific case. The categories analyzed were “social determination of health,” “workloads,” “wear and tear,” “overexploitation,” and “alienation.” Results: Work in sugarcane cutting involves various physical, chemical, biological, physiological, and psychological stresses, leading to significant wear and tear on the workers. The study indicates that “kangaroo disease” signifies a dehumanization of workers, evidenced by the overexploitation of the workforce. This overexploitation is evident in the intensification of production work, extended working hours, and low wages, resulting in poor health and the further dehumanization of the workers. The observed premature exhaustion demonstrates that, even with mechanization, health issues remain, highlighting the urgent need for reforms in working conditions and compensation in manual sugarcane cutting. Research limitations: The case study approach might restrict the generalizability of the results to different contexts or locations. Findings: “Kangaroo disease” symbolizes the overexploitation and dehumanization of workers involved in manual sugarcane cutting, transforming their labor into a source of both physical and psychological degradation.