Riesgo, autoatención y autocuidado en la economía de plataforma

This article analyzes the knowledge and practices of self-care and self-care embodied by Latin American immigrants in the context of their experiences as home-deliverers of food for digital platforms in the context of Catalonia (Spain). For this purpose, a multisite ethnography is carried out in which various data collection techniques are used in the course of the fieldwork: in-depth interviews, participant observation and non-participant observation. The ethnographic work shows that the implementation of knowledge and self-care practices centered on the use of protective instruments (helmet, gloves and others) is fundamentally related to two factors: the type of vehicle that the delivery drivers use when making the deliveries and the climatic conditions in which they must work. The latter conditions, when extreme (as in the case of high temperatures) become another factor that drives riders to mobilize other knowledge and self-care practices. Finally, it should be noted that when, as a result of their work activity, delivery drivers suffered from discomfort, afflictions, illnesses and/or accidents, they resorted to self-care knowledge and practices to alleviate, control and/or overcome the health problem that afflicted them. In this sense, it is in solitude and/or in the family context (local or transnational) of the riders where they most frequently make diagnoses and carry out practices of self-care and healing of their ailments.