Health Hazards and the Socioeconomic Status of Female Labour of Tobacco Processing Mills in Kushtia, Bangladesh

Abstract

This cross sectional study was conducted to identify prevalence of different disease symptoms, nutritional and socioeconomic status in women workers working in tobacco processing plants. The survey was done on a sample of 240 (Two hundred and forty) female tobacco workers. The study was done by direct participatory observation method. The target persons were interviewed on the basis of prepared questionnaires to trace out the research findings. They were physically observed and their anthropometric measurement was done as well as blood pressure and pulse reading was also taken. The study showed a significant prevalence of respiratory ailment, acute physical weakness and biting pain in limbs. Besides, wheezing, shortness of breath with wheezing, chest pain, cardiac palpitation, lethargy, eye irritation and redness, low blood pressure, underweight, nausea, skin irritation, loss of appetite, insomnia or oversleep, diarrhea and constipation were also found to a considerable percentage. Respiratory symptoms were recorded in 61 % female tobacco workers. 90 % were suffering from acute physical weakness and 65 %from biting pain in limbs particularly in hands and legs. The study showed poor nutritional and socioeconomic status of female tobacco workers. Over half (55%) of them were underweight while 45% were of normal weight. Among the underweight category 40%, 10% and 5% were respectively mild, moderate and severely underweight. Due to poverty they were malnourished along with poor working and living environments makes them more prone to be suffered from repeated attack of communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Assessment of Occupational Hazards Related Factors among Tobacco Workers

“…This finding is in accord with those of Zago et al, 2016 study that assessed the high incidence of non-fatal work-related events in tobacco farmers, [9] and a Ali et al, 2021 study that showed that 90% of tobacco workers think that the work in tobacco production and processing carries significant health hazards [10]. A study of Khatun et al, 2013 in Koshtia, Bangladesh, showed that more than half of the workers have respiratory symptoms, the majority of them suffer from general physical weakness, about two-thirds have muscle pain in the limbs, especially the hands and feet, and more than half have poor nutritional and social status [11].…”

Oral Health Status and Treatment Needs of Lock Factory Workers in Aligarh City

“…In this study, majority of the study population i.e., 264 (31.1%) belonged to 25-34 years, which is in accordance to the study conducted by Bansal and Veeresha, 1 and Khatun et al . 7 in which majority of the workers i.e., 592 (42.8%) belonged to 25-34 years of age group.…”