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Health Hazards and the Socioeconomic Status of Female Labour of Tobacco Processing Mills in Kushtia, Bangladesh

Received: 6 March 2013    Accepted:     Published: 10 March 2013
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Abstract

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.

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 1, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20130101.11
Page(s) 1-8
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Keywords

Tobacco, Health Hazards, Socioeconomic, Respiratory Symptoms, Physical Weakness, Female worker

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    Fahmida Khatun, Kamruzzaman M., Mominul Islam, Shofikul Islam, Hafizur Rahman, et al. (2013). Health Hazards and the Socioeconomic Status of Female Labour of Tobacco Processing Mills in Kushtia, Bangladesh. Science Journal of Public Health, 1(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20130101.11

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    ACS Style

    Fahmida Khatun; Kamruzzaman M.; Mominul Islam; Shofikul Islam; Hafizur Rahman, et al. Health Hazards and the Socioeconomic Status of Female Labour of Tobacco Processing Mills in Kushtia, Bangladesh. Sci. J. Public Health 2013, 1(1), 1-8. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20130101.11

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    AMA Style

    Fahmida Khatun, Kamruzzaman M., Mominul Islam, Shofikul Islam, Hafizur Rahman, et al. Health Hazards and the Socioeconomic Status of Female Labour of Tobacco Processing Mills in Kushtia, Bangladesh. Sci J Public Health. 2013;1(1):1-8. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20130101.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20130101.11,
      author = {Fahmida Khatun and Kamruzzaman M. and Mominul Islam and Shofikul Islam and Hafizur Rahman and Rezaul Karim},
      title = {Health Hazards and the Socioeconomic Status of Female Labour of Tobacco Processing Mills in Kushtia, Bangladesh},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {1},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-8},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20130101.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20130101.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20130101.11},
      abstract = {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.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Health Hazards and the Socioeconomic Status of Female Labour of Tobacco Processing Mills in Kushtia, Bangladesh
    AU  - Fahmida Khatun
    AU  - Kamruzzaman M.
    AU  - Mominul Islam
    AU  - Shofikul Islam
    AU  - Hafizur Rahman
    AU  - Rezaul Karim
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20130101.11
    T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
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    EP  - 8
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7950
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20130101.11
    AB  - 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.
    VL  - 1
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Author Information
  • Department of Applied Nutrition and Food Technology, Islamic University, Kushtia-7003, Bangladesh

  • Department of Applied Nutrition and Food Technology, Islamic University, Kushtia-7003, Bangladesh

  • Department of Applied Nutrition and Food Technology, Islamic University, Kushtia-7003, Bangladesh

  • Department of Applied Nutrition and Food Technology, Islamic University, Kushtia-7003, Bangladesh

  • Department of Applied Nutrition and Food Technology, Islamic University, Kushtia-7003, Bangladesh

  • Department of Applied Nutrition and Food Technology, Islamic University, Kushtia-7003, Bangladesh

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