Health profile of adult beedi workers among unorganized sectors in Kolar city

Harish S.; Prasana Kamath

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20242546

Authors

Harish S. Department of Community Medicine, East Point College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Prasana Kamath Department of Community Medicine, Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research Centre, Kolar, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20242546

Keywords:

Occupational diseases, Morbidity, Beedi workers, Spirometry, Nordic questionnaire

Abstract

Background: Over 35 million people are involved in tobacco industry. Beedi rolling causes serious occupational health hazards to the workers and their family who are constantly exposed to tobacco dust and hazardous chemicals, compounded by factors at the place of work. Occupational diseases due to inhalation of tobacco dust and the other is the result of long hours of continuous sitting in an improper working posture.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among adult beedi workers residing in Kolar city. The study included 384 beedi workers. A pretested, semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data.

Results: The study comprised of 384 study subjects out of which, Among the health problems, most common were musculoskeletal problems involving 277 (72.02%) subjects, followed by respiratory problems among 159 (41.40%), eye problems among 46 (11.9%) and others 23 (5.9%). Most common chronic illness were found to be Hypertension in 43 (43.88%) followed by Asthma 26 (26.53 %), Diabetes mellitus 12 (12.24%), ischemic heart disease 7 (7.4%) and others 10 (10.20%). Lung functions were assessed by spirometry in 83 study subjects of whom 9.6% were having obstructive features, followed by 2.4% with restrictive features, 3.6% having mixed.

Conclusions: Musculoskeletal problem was the most common morbidity. Which was related to the working posture of continuous forward bending of the trunk. Educational status of such workers was found to play an important role in creating awareness and in turn utilization of welfare schemes.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Report of the working group on occupational safety and health for the 5 years plan. Government of India ministry of labour and employment. Available at: planningcommission.nic.in.

Kouser BK, Sitalakshmi R, Padmavathi R. Pulmonary functions among beedi rolling workers of South India-a cross-sectional study. Int J Biomed Adv Res. 2014;5:31-4.

Joshi KP, Robins M, Mallikarjunaih KM. An epidemiological study of occupational health hazards among bidi workers of Amarchinta, Andhra Pradesh. J Acad Indus Res, 2013;1:561-4.

Sen V. Effects of working condition on Health of Bidi Workers. A study of Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh. in, Arnab Ghosh. environmental, drinking water and public health problems and future goals. Delhi, Daya publishing house. 2007;132-49.

Madhusudhan M, Patil D, Jayaram S. Occupational health profile of Beedi workers in Coastal Karnataka. National J Com Med. 2014;5:157-60.

Ghosh PC, Iqbal R, Bairwa BL, Roy C, Subhash C. Occupational health profile of the beedi workers and ergonomic intervention. Indos news, Central Labour Institute. 2005;10(2):8-13.

Rajasekhar D, Sreedhar G. Identifying alternative employment and income opportunities for women beedi workers-A study in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. Report submitted to the ILO. 2001:33.

Sudarshan R, Kaur R. The tobacco industry and women’s employment: old concerns and new imperatives. Indian J Labour Econ. 1999;42:675-85.

Saurabh M, Apoorva M, Ramakrishnan R. Ocular manifestation in bidi industry workers: Possible consequence of occupational exposure to tobacco dust. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2008;56:319-22.

Anil M, Machado L, Sequeira A, Prasanna KS, Subramanya J. Study of morbidity pattern of female beedi workers in the urban field practice area of Mangalore, Southern India. Int J AJ Inst Med Sci. 2012;1:41-6.

Gopal M. Health of women workers in the beedi industry. Medico Friends Circle Bulletin. 2000;268:1-7.

Yasmin S, Afroz B, Hyat B, Doris. Occupational health hazards in women beedi rollers in Bihar, India. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2010;85:87-91.

International Labour Organisation. Bidi Sector in India: A Note. New Delhi. ILO. Available at: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/regionasro/newdelhidownload/notebidi.pdf.

Rajasekhar D, Anantha KH. Benefits to the beedi workers of Karnataka: role of Trade Unions. Indian Journal of Industrial Relations. 2006;41(3):376- 406.

Kumar A. International labour organization action project to promote ‘decent work’. Tobacco research in India. proceedings of an expert meeting on supporting efforts to reduce harm. Mumbai: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. 2003:12.

Chattopadhyay BP, Gangopadhyay PK, Mukherjee AK, Munda DS, Das S, Hossain SM. Respiratory response to tobacco dust exposure in the bidi binders. National Institute of Occupational Health. Annual Report. 2007;08:25-31.