Physical and mental morbidity pattern among female cashew workers in Kollam district, Kerala

Mary Dello Rebello; Betsy A. Jose; Felix Johns

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20231683

Authors

Mary Dello Rebello Department of Community Medicine, Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India
Betsy A. Jose Department of Community Medicine, Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India
Felix Johns Department of Community Medicine, Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20231683

Keywords:

Cashew nut processing, Morbidity pattern, Cashew worker

Abstract

Background: The cashew processing is a labour-intensive work with a significant number of female workers. Majority belong to low socioeconomic status and so they join this sector to meet up their daily living. Long hours of work, greater work load and increased family burden lead to increase in morbidity status among workers. As comorbidities gets unnoticed and ignored, there is occurrence of early morbidity as well as mortality in these working groups and this is one of the major concerns.

Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted among female cashew workers in Kollam district, Kerala. Data was collected using interviewer administered questionnaire using stratified multistage cluster sampling method. Seven workers each were selected from shelling, peeling and grading processing units from eight private and two government factories. Data entered in micrososft excel, coded and analyzed using SPSS software version 25. Descriptive statistics for qualitative data were expressed as frequency and percentages and quantitative data as mean and standard deviation

Results: Out of 210 participants, 95.4% workers were suffering from one or the other morbidities. Arthralgia was the major concern followed by allergy, hypertension and thyroid. Prehypertensive state was found to be present among all participants. Anxiety noticed in majority of participants.

Conclusions: Frequent medical check-ups, recreational activities and health education sessions needs to be implemented in all cashew factories to lessen the morbidity and to up bring the health status of workers.

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