European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Occupational health should aim at the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social wellbeing of workers in all occupations. The job of being a class IV employee entails several occupational hazards which pose a great danger to the health and wellbeing and life of the worker. Class IV workers are exposed to accidental hazards and suffer from occupational hazards like musculoskeletal and respiratory disorders, eye ailments, skin and gastrointestinal problems and injuries. The problems of women are overlooked and hence are at a major risk of occupational related diseases. The occupational determinants to which female class IV employees are exposed can be classified as under physical, environmental, psychological and as a result of movements. Hence the present study was carried out to assess the morbidity profile and their prevalence amongst female class IV employeesof municipal tertiary care teaching hospital in Mumbai city.
Methods: Across-sectional study was carried out amongst 287 female class IV employees (Aayas and Mehatranis) of municipal tertiary care teaching hospital in Mumbai during the period of April 2017 to December 2018. A semi-structured interview schedule was prepared comprising of occupational determinants influencing health and morbidity profile. Data was entered in MS Excel and analysed in the form of percentage and proportions whenever necessary.
Results: Out of total 287 participants, majority ie102(35.5%) had musculoskeletal problems followed by 85(29.6%) respiratory problems, 63(21.9%) suffered from eye problems, 45(15.7%) had skin problems and 24(8.4%) had gastrointestinal problems, 20(6.9%) had gynaecological problems and only 4(1.4%) had injuries. 44.3% of study subjects were partially immunized with Hepatitis B vaccine and 24% were unimmunized.21.6% had history of needle prick injury in past one year with finger as the most common site.40.8% subjects consumed smokeless tobacco in various forms.