Developing a modified and contextualised Occupational Justice Health Questionnaire (OJHQ) for use with marginalised populations: A Delphi study
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(Embargo ends 23 October 2026)
Date
2025
Authors
George, E.
Moorthy, S.
Tommaso, A.D.
Rankin, E.
Oxlad, M.
Murthy, G.V.
Tetali, S.
D’Souza, B.
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Journal of Occupational Science, 2025; 32(3):1-22
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Emma George, Shobana Moorthy, Amelia Di Tommaso, Eve Rankin, Melissa Oxlad, GVS Murthy, Shailaja Tetali, Beryl D, Souza
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ABSTRACT There are women and girls in southern rural India forced into illegal and ritualised acts of sexual servitude. Locally known as ‘Joginis’, these women experience social exclusion and discrimination, often deprived of human rights and meaningful occupation. Government, community, and health services respond to immediate needs and advocate for education and empowerment. However, there is a limited understanding of occupational injustices for women in the Jogini system from an Indian perspective. Occupational therapists and public health researchers in India identified the need to contextualise understandings of occupational injustice. Wilcock and Townsend’s Occupational Justice Health Questionnaire (OJHQ) is a tool designed to explore the ability to engage in a variety of occupations, exercise basic human rights, and identify occupational injustices. This study aimed to understand the determinants of health and human rights within the OJHQ and consider their applicability to marginalised women in rural areas of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Three rounds of a modified Delphi were completed, and participant expert panellists with experience working with marginalised women in rural India reached a consensus that all determinants in the OJHQ were applicable in the southern Indian context. Participants identified examples for each determinant and limitations of the original version of the OJHQ. This led to the development of a Modified-OJHQ. Participants, project advisors, and the research team agreed that to further contextualise occupational justice research in India, the voices of marginalised women and communities are essential. This study highlights the necessity to expand occupational science research beyond ‘Western’ contexts and contributes to knowledge on occupational justice in India.
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© 2025 The Association for the Journal of Occupational Science Incorporated