Health hazards and the socioeconomic status of female labour of tobacco processing mills in Kushtia, Bangladesh

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.