Comparative analysis of respiratory health profile among female beedi and non-beedi workers in a district of West Bengal

Abstract

Background: Beedi workers are more prone to develop chronic respiratory diseases over time.
 Aims and Objectives: The present research aimed to investigate and compare the respiratory health profile and the factors associated among the beedi workers and non-beedi workers.
 Materials and Methods: An analytical, community based, cross sectional study was conducted among 60 female beedi and non-beedi workers. Multistage sampling was used to select three wards out of twenty wards under a municipality of the study district. After interview with a pre-designed structured questionnaire, the respondents were examined clinically and pulmonary function test was done using a portable spirometer.
 Results: All beedi workers were married and 23.3% were illiterate. Most of them had 1to 10 years exposure. Half of them initiated their work between 11 to 20 years. Rate of tobacco smoking, obesity, hypertension, asthma, diabetes was high among beedi workers. Forced Vital Capacity, Forced Expiratory Flow 25-75 and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate were significantly more among non-beedi workers. Forced Expiratory Volume in 1st second was more among non-beedi workers but FEV1/FVC ratio was same for both the group.
 Conclusion: Significantly better respiratory health profile of non-beedi workers have reflected beedi binding as a reason behind chronic respiratory disease. Therefore, awareness generation session regarding occupation based adverse effects and safety measures must be conducted at regular interval to make the working condition favorable.

Occupational health hazards of bidi workers and their families in India: a scoping review

“…Five studies reported higher prevalence of any respiratory disease (6.09–10.3% vs 1.0–7.25%),25 75 84 tuberculosis (6.6% vs 0%)107 and asthma (9.1–25% vs 3.3–12%)50 107 in female bidi workers when compared with non-bidi workers. The case–control study evaluating pulmonary health reported a statistically significant higher forced expiratory flow and peak expiratory flow rate among non-bidi workers, in comparison with bidi workers 32. Another case–control study assessing pulmonary functional status reported various respiratory impairments (restrictive, obstructive and ‘combined restrictive and obstructive’) which were higher among bidi workers (23.53%) than non-bidi workers (3.56%) 36…”

“…Overall, we found 95 studies (96 reports) assessing occupational health hazards of bidi workers and their families 8–10 12 18–108. We found eight studies from the grey literature, while 87 studies were published.…”

“…We found 87 studies assessing occupational health hazards in bidi workers 8–10 12 18–43 45 47–51 53–67 69 71–84 87–90 92–108. We synthesised evidence on domains based on the medical specialty, to enable presentation which could be well understood by clinicians and policymakers, as well as by the general public.…”

“…We found 44 studies on respiratory diseases in bidi workers,8–10 12 18 19 21 25 26 32 34 36 40 49 50 56 59 60 62 63 65 66 69 71–73 75 77–82 84 90 97 98 100 102–107 reporting high prevalence of tuberculosis, asthma and chronic bronchitis. Out of these, 36 were cross-sectional studies,8–10 12 18 19 21 26 34 40 56 59 60 62 63 65 66 69 71–73 77–82 90 97 98 100 102–107 seven case–control studies25 32 36 50 75 84 107 and one quasi-experimental study 49. The prevalence of respiratory disorders reported in cross-sectional studies of bidi workers varied from 6.6% to 52.5% 19 21 40 59 60 62 65 73 77–79 81 100 103 104…”

“…The case–control study evaluating pulmonary health reported a statistically significant higher forced expiratory flow and peak expiratory flow rate among non-bidi workers, in comparison with bidi workers. 32 Another case–control study assessing pulmonary functional status reported various respiratory impairments (restrictive, obstructive and ‘combined restrictive and obstructive’) which were higher among bidi workers (23.53%) than non-bidi workers (3.56%). 36 …”