Medknow Publications on behalf of Indian Journal of Medical Sciences Trust
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Assam is the highest tea producer state in the country.
There is scarcity of reliable information on health and nutritional
status among tea garden population of Assam to enable initiating public
health response to their health needs. AIMS: To describe health
problems and nutritional status among tea garden population of Assam.
SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Community-based cross-sectional survey in eight
randomly selected tea gardens of Dibrugarh district of Assam.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics
of participants were recorded. Health problems and nutritional status
were assessed through medical examination, evaluation of medical
records, anthropometry and laboratory investigations. STATISTICAL
ANALYSIS : Percentage prevalence; Chi-square test was applied wherever
applicable. RESULTS: Out of 4,016 participants, 1,863 were male and
2,153 were female. They were mostly illiterate, and nearly 52.9% (1,197
of 2,264) of adults were manual workers in the garden. Alcohol and oral
tobacco use were common. Prevalence of underweight among children was
59.9% (357 of 596), and thinness among adults was 69.9% (1,213 of
1,735). Anemia was widespread. Worm infection (65.4%, 217 of 332); skin
problems; respiratory infections, including tuberculosis; filariasis
were present in a significant way. Children suffered more in various
diseases. Major noncommunicable diseases like hypertension, stroke were
emerging in the community and were associated with modifiable risk
factors like alcohol and tobacco use. CONCLUSION: Health status of
the population can be ameliorated through better hygienic practices,
environmental sanitation, creating health awareness, nutritional
intervention and overall improvement of socioeconomic conditions of the
population