Effects of Occupational Tobacco Exposure on Foetal Growth, among Beedi Rollers in Coastal Karnataka

Abstract

Introduction: Though there is ample evidence on adverse effects of tobacco exposure caused by smoking during pregnancy on foetal outcomes, there is lack of studies done on the effects of exposure caused by transdermal absorption, as is seen among beedi rolling women. Therefore, this study was planned, to assess the effect of maternal exposure to tobacco, in the form of beedi-rolling, on the birth weight and other neonatal anthropometric measurements. Materials and Methods:A cross sectional study with controls was conducted, with 102 beedi rollers forming the study group and an equal number of matched controls (control group) (total 204). Data was collected by using a pre-tested questionnaire and anthropometric examinations of the neonates were carried out within 48 hours of their births.Results: Mean birth weight of the newborns was 2.66 (SD=0.32) among those who were born to beedi rolling women and it was 2.63 (SD=0.38) kg among the control group. Crown heel length was 48.09 centimeters (SD=1.93) in the study group and it was 48.12 cm (SD=1.92) in the control group. Beedi rolling beyond the 7 th month of gestation and for more than six hours per day was associated with a small but insignificant decline in birth weight and crown heel length. Conclusion:Beedi-rolling was found to be relatively safe during pregnancy but it could produce adverse effects if it was continued into the third trimester and for longer durations. This study can make the beedi rollers as well as their employers aware of harmful over-exposure to beedi rolling and help them in preventing it.

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

“…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 six studies assessing the impact of bidi rolling on pregnant bidi workers 35 46 68 85 89 93…”

“…We found 13 studies assessing occupational health hazards in the families and communities of bidi workers 25 35 46 52 68 73 74 79 83 85 86 89 93…”

Women Beedi Workers of Cooch Behar, West Bengal: Accessibility of Welfare Programmes

“…A few studies have pointed out that beedi workers are particularly prone to a few types of occupational diseases such as eye issues, musculoskeletal system related diseases, pallor, high blood pressure and overweight (Basu et al, 2018), toxic optic neuropathy (Kaup et al, 2017), tuberculosis, lung cancer, gynaecological disorders, children born with congenital disorders (Mukherjee et al, 2014), joint pains, nervous system and skin diseases, high levels of creatinine in urine samples (Singh et al, 2014), respiratory impairment (Banu, 2014), and fatigue (Sabale et al, 2012). Beedi rolling in the third trimester during pregnancy is associated with a small, but a significant decline in birth weight and crown-heel length (Mandelia & Subba, 2014). Another study among the beedi workers of Udupi district in south India has found that a majority of the sampled workers have pain in their back, shoulders, knee joints and also suffer from sneezing bouts during beedi rolling, early morning coughs, sinusitis, pain in the fingers, nail discoloration, vision problems, watering of the eyes, musculoskeletal issues, and have respiratory, eye and skin problems (Sudina & Francis, 2015).…”

Morbidity Profile among Women Beedi Workers in the Urban Slum of Kurnool Town, Andhra Pradesh

“…Most of the Beedi making is carried out by the contractual, home-based, daily base system. In this women and children are involved quite easily 3 .Beedi is made by two main raw materials, tendu leaves (Beedi wrapper) and tobacco flakes. A single woman on an average rolls 500-1000 Beedi's per day, using an average of 500 grams of www.jmscr.igmpublication.org Impact Factor 5.84 Index Copernicus Value: 71.58 ISSN (e)-2347-176x ISSN (p) 2455-0450 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i1.105 tobacco flake 2 .…”