A Study on the Health Problems of Women Working in a Textile Unit in Coimbatore

The economic status of women is now accepted as an indicator of a society‟s stage of development. Textile industry is the only industry to have employed women workers since long time. Women workers unlike the majority in the informal sector have been exposed to rigorous work, discipline, fixed working hours, specific production norms etc. In TamilNadu, the garment industry is female dominated field. There are many health problems to which the women workers in textile industry is exposed to. To examine the health problems of women workers in the textile unit a study is undertaken. The data was collected with the help of a questionnaire administered to 60 women. The study found out that many of them suffered from backache, joint pains, headache and general tiredness. The medical expenses were a big burden for these women. The women do not give much importance to their health. They try to work even when they are sick and weak, just to supplement the family income. The health hazards of the women working in the textile industry are much higher compared to their counter parts in other sectors. It is therefore an urgent need on the part of the policy makers to take effective steps to better the condition of women in textile industry.