Objective:Â  To study the morbidity pattern in adult textile weavers. Study Design: Community-based cross sectional studyPeriod of the study:Â  one year (November 2004 to October 2005)Study participants: 377 adult textile weavers residing in Khasbag, BelgaumSetting: Khasbag urban field practice area of J. N. Medical College, BelgaumAnalysis: Frequency distribution in EXCEL 2000 SoftwareResults: The most common morbidities found were noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) - 125 (33.2%), followed by dental stains â€“ 109 (28.9%), hypertension 81 (21.5%), acid peptic disorders - 75 (19.9%), sleep disorders - 69 (18.3%), dental cariesÂ  - 67 (17.8%), backache - 63 (16.7%), myalgia / fatigue - 60 (15.9%), URTI - 58 (15.4%) and anemia -35 (9.3%).Keywords: Textile weavers, Morbidity, Noise induced hearing los

A.S. Wantamutte, N.D. Zingade, M.D. Mallapur, M.S. Shivaswamy, Deepti M. Kadeangadi*,

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Recent Research in Science and Technology 2010, 2(8): 01-04 ISSN: 2076-5061 www.recent-science.com  Medical Sciences MORBIDITY PATTERN IN TEXTILE WEAVERS OF URBAN BELGAUM:                 A COMMUNITY BASED CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY Deepti M. Kadeangadi∗, A.S. Wantamutte, N.D. Zingade, M.D. Mallapur, M.S. Shivaswamy Department of Community Medicine, K.L.E University’s J. N. Medical College, Belgaum – 590010, INDIA  Abstract Objective:  To study the morbidity pattern in adult textile weavers.  Study Design: Community-based cross sectional study Period of the study:  one year (November 2004 to October 2005) Study participants: 377 adult textile weavers residing in Khasbag, Belgaum Setting: Khasbag urban field practice area of J. N. Medical College, Belgaum Analysis: Frequency distribution in EXCEL 2000 Software Results: The most common morbidities found were noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) - 125 (33.2%), followed by dental stains – 109 (28.9%), hypertension 81 (21.5%), acid peptic disorders - 75 (19.9%), sleep disorders - 69 (18.3%), dental caries  - 67 (17.8%), backache - 63 (16.7%), myalgia / fatigue - 60 (15.9%), URTI - 58 (15.4%) and anemia -35 (9.3%). Keywords: Textile weavers, Morbidity, Noise induced hearing loss                                                          ∗ Corresponding Author, Email: deeptimkin@yahoo.co.in, Mob: 91-9448021479 Introduction The textile industry is one of the oldest and most technologically complex of all industries, accounting for 20% of industrial output in India.1 The current burden of occupational health diseases is estimated to be around 18 million cases and among them, the annual incidence of chronic respiratory disorders is forty five lakhs, dermatitis is thirty lakhs and musculoskeletal disorders is seventy five thousand cases. Thirty percent of hospital admissions and twenty eight percent of limb injuries are related to occupation diseases morbidities.2 Hence the situation needs to be addressed through various occupational health programmes to protect and promote the health and work ability of workers, which in turn, lead to increased productivity and economic growth of the country.    Objective To study the morbidity pattern in adult textile weavers at Urban Field Practice Area, Khasbag, Belgaum Materials and Methods A cross sectional study of 377 adult textile weavers residing in Khasbag, Belgaum was conducted during November 2004 to October 2005. Ethical Clearance was obtained from Institutional Ethics Committee and written informed Consent of the study subjects was obtained. The subjects were interviewed with pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire and hearing acuity were assessed using Tuning fork tests (Rinne’s test, Weber’s test and absolute Conduction test) using standard methods. Data analysis was done using EXCEL 2000 software.   ResultsTable No I: Distribution of study participants according to age and sex Age          (in years) Males Females Total  No. % No. % No. % 20 – 29 93 24.6 17 4.5 110 29.1 30 – 39 92 24.4 19 5.1 111 29.5 40 – 49 49 13.0 11 2.9 060 15.9 50 – 59 77 20.4 19 5.1 096 25.5 Total 311 82.4 66 17.6 377 100.0   Out of 377 study participants, 82.4%(311) were males and 17.6% (66) were females.  More than half i.e. 58.6% (221) of them belonged to the age group 20 –40 years. Deepti M. Kadeangadi et al./Rec Res Sci Tech 2 (2010) 01-04  Table No. II: Socio-demographic distribution of study participants Characteristics No % Religion           Hindus 365 (96.8%)       Muslims 12 (3.2%) Educational status       Illiterates 43 (11.4%)       Primary 200 (53.6%)       Secondary 97 (25.8%)       Higher Secondary 24 (6.4%)       Graduates 13 (3.4%) Socio-economic status (Modified B.G. Prasad’s classification)       Class I 1 (0.3%)       Class II 7 (1.9%)       Class III 74 (19.6%)       Class IV 191 (50.7%)       Class V 104 (27.6%) Marital status      Unmarried 57      (15.1%)      Married 305      (80.9%)      Widow/ Widowers/ Divorced            15 (4.0%) Type of Family      Nuclear 169     (44.8%)      Joint 205     (54.4%)      Three Generation 1 (0.3%)      Broken 2 (0.5%)  The socio-demographic characteristics of the study population showed that most of them (96.8%) were Hindus and nearly half of the participants were Educated up to primary school (53.6%). According to modified B G Prasad’s classification, half (50%) of them belonged to social class IV. Majority of them were married (80.9%) and 54.4% belonged to joint family. Table No III: Distribution of Participants according to Work & Habits  Characteristics No %  Work experience in years        1-10 years 145       (38.5%)    11-20 years 113       (30.0%)     More than 20 years 119       (31.5%) Duration of working hours per day       Less than 8 hours 73 (19.4%)     8-10 hours 232 (61.5%)     More than 10 hours 72 (19.1%) Personal Habits       Smoking Tobacco 58 (15.4%)     Consumption of Alcohol 136 (36.1%) Tobacco chewing 137 (36.3%)  It was observed that one third (31.5%) of textile weavers had worked for more than 20 years and 80.62% of them worked for more than 8 hrs per day. In the present study the prevalence of oro-dental conditions were 176 (46.7%). Among these the prevalence of dental stains was 109 (28.9%) and prevalence of dental caries was 67 (17.8%). 3     Deepti M. Kadeangadi et al./Rec Res Sci Tech 2 (2010) 01-04  Table No. IV: Distribution of morbidities among study participants according to systems (arranged in decreasing order of prevalence)  Morbidities Study participants (n=377) Number Percentage Oro-dental problems 176 46.7 Musculoskeletal  system 170 45.1 Ear, Nose and Throat disorders 166 44.0 Cardiovascular system 107 28.4 Gastrointestinal system 103 27.3  In the present study out of 377, 170 (45.1%) had musculo-skeletal disorders. Among them 63 (16.7%) had backache, 60 (15.9%) had myalgia/fatigue, arthralgia in 27 (7.2%), fracture in 13(3.4%), cervical brachialgia 04 (1.1%) and sprains 03 (0.8%). In the present study out of 377, 156 (40.4%) had E.N.T. disorders. Among them, 14 (3.8%) had chronic suppurative otitis media, 05 (1.3%) had tinnitus and 137 (36.3%) suffered from hearing impairment. (Nose & throat morbidity is combined with Respiratory system as URTI). Our study revealed that the prevalence of gastrointestinal conditions were 107 (28.4%). Out of these, most common condition was acid peptic disorder - 75 (19.9%), followed by hemorrhoids/fissures 12 (3.2%), amoebiasis 10 (2.7%), constipation 5 (1.3%) and worm infestation 1 (0.3%). Table No. V: Top ten leading causes of morbidity in the study group Morbidity Study participants (n=377)  Number Percentage Noise induced hearing loss 125 33.2 Dental stains 109 28.9 Hypertension 81 21.5 Acid peptic disorder 75 19.9 Sleep disorders 69 18.3 Dental caries 67 17.8 Backache 63 16.7 Myalgia / fatigue 60 15.9 U.R.T.I. 58 15.4 Anemia 35 9.3       In the present study, the most common morbidity found was noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) - 125 (33.2%), followed by dental stains - 109 (28.9%), hypertension 81 (21.5%), acid peptic disease - 75 (19.9%), sleep disorders - 69 (18.3%), dental caries  - 67 (17.8%), backache - 63 (16.7%), myalgia / fatigue - 60 (15.9%), URTI - 58 (15.4%) and anemia  -35 (9.3%).  Discussion The prevalence of oro-dental problems was 46.7%, out of which 28.9% had dental stains and 17.8% had dental caries.  In a study conducted on textile workers of Wardha revealed the prevalence of dental stains was 5.6% and dental caries was 8.2%, which was very low compared to the present study, probable reason being that majority of participants in the current study were tobacco or gutkha chewers (36.3%). 3 45.1% weavers had musculoskeletal disorders; out of these 16.7% were having backache followed by mylagia or fatigue 15.9%, arthralgia 8.2%, cervical arthralgia 1.1% and joint sprains 0.8%. A study conducted in textile workers of Wardha revealed the prevalence of backache was 11.1%4 and in another study conducted by ICMR in Jodhpur, the prevalence of backache was found as 19.4% among textile workers, which was similar to the present study.5 Prevalence of backache was found to be higher in textile workers due to forceful exertions during manual material handling, awkward trunk postures, and whole body vibrations or due to stress and strain to spine while working. In the present study, noise induced hearing loss was more common among E.N.T. disorders (36.3%), followed by Otitis media (3.8%) and tinnitus (1.3%), which was found to be almost similar to study conducted in textile weavers of New Delhi which revealed that hearing loss was found in 43.5% and tinnitus in 2%.6  28.4% of the workers had cardio-vascular disorders, out of these 21.5% had hypertension, 4.5% varicose veins and 1.9% myocardial infection. The Deepti M. Kadeangadi et al./Rec Res Sci Tech 2 (2010) 01-04  prevalence of Cardiovascular disorders was higher in our study compared to other study conducted in textile workers of Coimbatore (11%).7 The prevalence of hypertension was also higher in our study compared to the study conducted in textile workers of Wardha (1.9%). The prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders was 28.4%. Majority of them had acid peptic disorder 19.9%, followed by hemorrhoids and anal fissures in 3.2%, amoebiasis 2%, constipation 1.3% and worm infestation 0.3%.  In a study conducted in Wardha the prevalence of acid peptic disorder was 1.2%, amoebiasis 4.1% hemorrhoids 0.2% and worm infestation 0.2%.3 Acid peptic disorders were found higher in present study because of irregular food habits, consumption of Spicy foods, high prevalence of Gutkha and tobacco chewing and alcoholism.  Conclusion and Recommendations In the present study every third textile worker was suffering from noise induced hearing loss and two out of ten weavers were having hypertension. The other morbidities encountered were dental stains (28.9%), acid peptic disorder (19.9%), sleep disorders (18.3%) and dental caries (17.8%). It is essential to create awareness in general population and industrial workers in specific, regarding the potential health hazards of noise and modes of prevention of the noise induced hearing loss by health education Screening by pre-placement examination and periodic health check-ups of the workers, so as to ensure early diagnosis and prompt treatment of symptoms. It is also essential to motivate workers to use personal protective devices like ear muffs, ear plugs and canal caps during working hours. Proper posture adoption at work place will help in reducing musculoskeletal disorders. Strict enforcement of legislation regarding control of noise pollution at the work place and implementation of maximum working hours should be monitored. Conduction of Yoga and meditation classes for promotion of positive health and recreational facilities to the workers like sports and clubs may be provided for relaxation. The un-organized sectors should be brought Under Coverage of Employees’ State Insurance Scheme for the promotion and protection of health of these workers. Acknowledgments Dr. V. D. Patil, Principal, JNMC, Belgaum Dr. V. A. Naik, Professor& Head, Dept. of Community Medicine, JNMC, Belgaum. Dr. H. N. Sangolli & Dr, Shobha S. Karikatti, in charge Medical Officers of Urban Health Centre, Khasbag. References     1. Greenbergh MI, Hamilton RJ, Philips SD. Occupation, Industrial and Environmental Toxicology, Missouri (USA): Mosby Publishers; 1997    2. Mishra AK, Rotti SB, Sahai A, Mohan M, Danabalan. Epidemiological study of chronic bronchitis among textile workers in Pondicherry: Indian Journal of Community Medicine 2004; 29 (4): 166-8. 3. Tiwari RR, Pathak MC, Zodpey SP, Babar VY. Morbidity profile of cotton textile workers; Indian Journal of Community Medicine 2001; 26(1): 26-30.  4. Su YM, Su JR, Sheu JY, Loh CH, Liou SH. Additive effect of smoking and cotton dust exposure on respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function of cotton textile workers: Ind. Health 2003; 41(2): 109-15.  5. Singh MB, Fotedar R, Lakshminarayana J. Occupational morbidities and their association with nutrition and environmental factors among textile workers of desert areas of Rajasthan, India. J. Occup. Health 2005; 47(5):371-7.   6. Chattopadhyay AK, Abrol BM, Nath LM. Occupational hearing loss in textile workers: Indian Journal of Otology 1997; 31(1): 4-6.   7. Ananthan VS, Philip A, Logamurthy. Morbidity profile among the cotton mill workers in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu with emphasis on byssinosis: Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2001; 5 (1): 5-7.    

Morbidity Pattern in Textile Weavers of Urban Belgaum: A Community Based Cross Sectional Study

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Morbidity Pattern in Textile Weavers of Urban Belgaum: A Community Based Cross Sectional Study

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