Prevalence and prediction of occupational morbidities among male migrant workers in textile industries in Surat, India: a cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20232032Keywords:
Occupational morbidities, Occupational health, Textile industries, Migrant workers, IndiaAbstract
Background: In the textile industry, male migrant workers from other Indian states predominate. Workers are more vulnerable to occupational hazards due to poor working conditions, such as long hours and workplace annoyances. These include noise, high temperatures, humidity, chemical fumes, and cotton or synthetic dust, which harm their health. This study investigated the morbidity patterns of textile migrant workers in Surat.
Methods: From April to November 2017, cross-sectional research was conducted in three blocks, utilizing multistage stratified cluster sampling to survey 348 TMWs. A pre-tested and pre-designed structured questionnaire was developed to collect data on three types of textile units: yarn, weaving, and processing. A bivariate and binary logistic regression examined the relationship between the self-reported prevalence of occupational morbidities (outcome variables) and occupation-related factors (predictor variables).
Results: Occupational morbidities affect 95% of workers. Self-reported morbidities include musculoskeletal morbidities (72.7%), respiratory morbidities (21.9%), ophthalmic morbidities (27.6%), skin morbidities (23.9%), and ENT problems (18.4%). Those working in weaving manufacturing units are 10% more likely to have ocular disorders (P<0.05). Those who engage in printing and dyeing processing units have a 27% higher chance of developing respiratory morbidities (P<0.05).
Conclusions: The prevalence of occupational morbidity is significantly higher among textile workers. The hazardous risk factors responsible for these morbidities can be mitigated by improving working conditions and implementing suitable protective measures for textile workers. Intervention initiatives are required to address textile workers’ health concerns.
References
Dhanabhakyam M, Shanthi A. Indian textile industry- an overview, 2007. Available at: https://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/2363/indian-textile-industry-an-overview. Accessed on 15 March 2023.
Agarwal V. Indian Textile Industry and Employment Generation, 2022. Available at: https://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/9335/indian-textile-industry-and-employment-generation. Accessed on 15 March 2023.
Karanikas N, Hasan SMT. Occupational health and safety and other worker wellbeing areas: results from labour inspections in the Bangladesh textile industry. Safe Sci. 2022;146:105533.
Bansal M, Yadav RK. Occupational health hazards and awareness of occupational safety among workers of textile dyeing industries in Jaipur, India. Occup Health. 2016;2(2):30-8.
Singh N. Safety and health issues in workers in clothing and textile industries. Int J Home Sci. 2016;2(3):38-40.
Bhatia R, Sharma VK. Occupational dermatoses: an Asian perspective. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2017;83(5):525-35.
India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative Collaborators. The burden of chronic respiratory diseases and their heterogeneity across the states of India: The Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2016. Lancet. 2018;6:e1363-74.
Krishnamoorthy VH, Kuberan D, Gopichandran V. Prevalence, patterns and disability due to musculoskeletal disorders among cotton textile industry workers in Tamil Nadu- a cross sectional study. Int J Med Public Health. 2019;9(3):66-70.
Nandi SS, Dhatrak SV. Occupational noise-induced hearing loss in India. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2008;12(2):53-6.
Nag A. Vyas H, Nag P. Occupational health scenario of Indian informal sector. Indust Health. 2016;54(4):377-85.
Shah NN, Baig NM, Vaidya SR. A study of exposure to noise and hearing loss among textile workers. Perspect Med Res. 2013;1(1):16-21.
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Roskams N, Op de Beeck R, De Craecker W. Occupational skin diseases and dermal exposure in the European Union (EU-25): policy and practice overview, Publications Office, 2008. Available at: https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2802/15493. Accessed on 15 March 2023.
Zaw AK, Myat AM, Thandar M, Htun YM, Aung TH, Tun KM, Han ZM. Assessment of noise exposure and hearing loss among workers in textile mill (Thamine), Myanmar: a cross-sectional study. Safe Health Work. 2020;11(2):199-206.
Rosenstock L, Cullen M, Fingerhut M. Occupational Health. In: Jamison DT, Breman JG, Measham AR, Alleyne G, Claeson M, Evans DB, et al, eds. Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries. 2nd edn. Washington (DC): The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank; Oxford University Press: New York; 2006.
NIHFW. National Programme for Control and Treatment of Occupational Diseases. 2009. Available at: http://www.nihfw.org/NationalHealth Programme/NATIONALPROGRAMMEFORCONTROL.html. Accessed on 11 March 2023.
Yadav SS. How safe are industries in India? Ascertaining industrial injuries in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, India by capture-recapture method. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2019;23(1):15-20.
Wanger NL, Wagner PJ, Jayachandra P. Distance learning courses in occupation medicine and good practice. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2005;9(2):57‑61.
Biswas MJ, Koparkar AR, Joshi MP, Hajare ST, Kasturwar NB. A study of morbidity pattern among iron and steel workers from an industry in central India. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2014;18(3):122-8.
Hiremath RB, Kattumuri R, Kumar B, Hiremath GR. Health and safety aspects of textile workers from Solapur (India) Textile Industries. Indian J Community Health. 2014;26(4):364-9.
Trivedy RK, Raman NS. Occupational health: Indian scenario. J Indust Pollut Control. 2004;19(1):175-86.
Suter A. Noise standards and regulations. In: Stellman J, edr. Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety. 4th edn. Volume 2. Geneva: International Labour Office; 1998:4715-4718.
Sheikh I, Ali I, Makhdoomi O, Wani RT. Occupational noise induced hearing loss among local industrial population in Kashmir: a lifestyle study. Int J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2018;4:1023-7.
Singh Z, Chadha P. Textile industry and occupational cancer. J Occup Med Toxicol. 2016;11(39):1-6.
Srinivas CR, Sethy M. Occupational dermatoses. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2022;14(1):21-31.
Singhi MK, Menghani PR, Gupta LK, Kachhawa D, Bansal M. Occupational contact dermatitis among the traditional ‘tie and dye’ cottage industry in Western Rajasthan. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2005;71(5):329-32.
Akram M. Occupational disease and public health concerns of migrant construction workers: a social epidemiological study in western Uttar Pradesh. Soc Change. 2014;44(1):97-117.
Bhattacharyya SK, Korinek K. Opportunities and vulnerabilities of female migrants in construction work in India. Asian Pacific Migrat J. 2007;16(4):511-31.
Jayakrishnan T, Thomas B, Rao B, George B. Occupational health problems of construction workers in India. Int J Med Public Health. 2013;3(4):225-9.
Dodd W, Humphries S, Patel K. Majowicz S, Little M, Dewey C. Determinants of internal migrant health and the healthy migrant effect in South India: a mixed methods study. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2017;17(23):1-12.
