OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HAZARDS OF FEMALE WORKERS IN GARMENT SECTOR-A STUDY IN GAZIPUR DISTRICT OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

The study was undertaken to analyze the occupational health hazards of the selected female garment workers as well as the health status. In this study, primary data were collected from the study area named Bank para, Auch para, Muktar bari, Guthia under the Gazipur district which was selected purposively where garment workers were available. The sample of the study consisted of 60 garment workers. Firstly, the areas were selected according to the purposively four cluster. Then judgment sampling was used to draw the sample from each cluster. Secondary data were also used in the study. Tabular and statistical techniques were applied to analyze the data. Logistic regression was used to measure the risk factors that are associated with the selective health hazards. The study revealed that the average age of the female workers was only 24 years and respondents appeared to be less educated. It was found that all the female workers were not household head in the family. So, in this study the percentage of household head of male are comparatively higher than female. Findings showed that the particular nature of work in the Ready-Made Garment created various types of health hazards. In this study, garment workers were affected by various diseases. These diseases were headache, fever, musculoskeletal pain, eye strain, less appetite, chest pain and respiratory trouble. Result of the study showed that the most frequent illness reported by 56.67 percent workers were affected by headache and 18.33 percent workers were affected by fever. It occurred due to the type of work, sources of drinking water, mental pressure in the working place and lack of healthy meal. The study also revealed that headache, fever and mental pressure were the important factor for contributing to low work output. Furthermore, the study recommends some options for improving the health status of the female garment workers such as ensuring a good sources of drinking water, provide facility of baby care centre and create canteen facility with cost effective balanced diet.