Prevalence and Risk Factors of Respiratory Symptoms Among Home-Based Garment Workers in Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with respiratory symptoms. A cross-sectional study with random sampling method was employed and 300 home-based garment workers (HBGWs) were recruited. Risk factors, including personal factors; knowledge, health preventive behaviors, and skill of self-health surveillance, working condition, and respiratory symptoms were assessed. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaires. Prevalence of respiratory symptom was 22.3%. Majority of participants were female (78%). Mean age and working experience were 37.38 years (SD = 10.70) and 13.58 years (SD = 8.71), respectively. Allergic respiratory symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 16.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 8.61-31.7) and garment dust exposure (OR = 12.3; 95% CI = 6.49-23.3) were significantly associated with respiratory symptoms (P < .001). Logistic regression analysis indicated history of allergic predicted the respiratory symptoms (OR = 12.96; 95% CI = 4.24-39.55). HBGWs who had serious allergic symptoms and high exposure to dust were at risk of respiratory symptoms. Therefore, preventive program for garment dust exposure among HBGWs is needed.

Health vulnerabilities of readymade garment (RMG) workers: a systematic review

“…of factories create health hazards (e.g., headache or shoulder pain, backache, joint pain, eye strain, hearing problem, gastroenteritis, chest pain, breathing difficulty, skin disease, tuberculosis, insomnia etc.) among the respondents.Prevalence of occupational health hazards among the respondents: 88.28%.Symptoms of health vulnerabilities:Headache (51%), Joint pain (31%), General weakness (28.3%), Chest pain (26.2%), Backache (24.8%), Gastroenteritis (21.4%), Jaundice (20.7%), Insomnia (20%), Eye strain/problem (13.8%), Hearing problem (8.3%), Skin disease (5.5%), Breathing problem (3.4%), Tuberculosis (2.8%).Causes identified: Bad physical environment; such as noise pollution (33.8%), problem with safe drinking water (15.9%), overcrowding (13.8%), inadequate light (9.7%), dirty (9%), unavailability of separate toilets (5.5%), inadequate ventilation (4.1%); & dusty raw materials of the factories.Psychological health issues are ignored while psychological health is also similarly important such as physical health.ModerateChumchai et al, 2015 [7](Thailand)Prevalence and risk factors of respiratory symptoms among home-based garment workers in Bangkok, ThailandCross-sectional study.Quantitative.Sample size: 300.Male: 66 (22%).Female: 232 (78%).Respondents were selected randomly.Used SPSS for data analysis. Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify risk factors associated with respiratory symptoms.To determine the prevalence and risk factors related to respiratory symptoms.Prevalence of respiratory problems among the respondents is: 22.3%.Common symptoms of respiratory problems:Abnormal lung function (29.3%)Nasal congestion (17.3%)Cough (5%)Itchiness (4.7%)Phlegm (4%)Cough with sputum (1.7%)Chest tightness (0.03%).Allergic symptoms: 25.3%.Causes of respiratory problems/factors associated with respiratory symptoms:Allergic reaction (61.8%) &Fabric dust (61.5%).Ambiguity about sample size: the abstract and methodology say that the size of respondents is 300, however, Table 1 shows that the sample size is 298 (male: 232; female: 66).…”

“…Studies revealed some remarkable health issues (that workers develop specifically due to their daily work activities) including respiratory problems [4, 7, 10, 11, 23–28], skin diseases/problems [4, 6, 23, 24, 27], musculoskeletal problems [4, 27], hearing loss [24, 27], and cardiovascular diseases [29]. In addition, some frequent and common diseases are reported, including; back/joint pain [4, 10, 23–25], cough and common cold [4, 7, 10, 26, 28], headache [10, 23, 24, 26], eye problem and loss of sight [4, 23–25], hepatitis (jaundice) [4, 10, 24], fever [4, 11, 26], diarrhea [11, 26, 28], and gastric pain [4, 10]; all which result in RMG workers’ health status becoming vulnerable. Factors reported as contributing to these illnesses and diseases include poor nutritional status and imbalanced diet [4, 11], poverty [26], unhealthy workplace environment [23, 25, 27], and the components of chemical hazards such as dust, smoke, mist, fumes, and dusty raw materials [22, 24].…”

“…Overall the most common health issue reported for RMG workers is respiratory problems (which includes breathing-related difficulties, cold, cough, chest tightness, asthma, nasal congestion, abnormal lung function) mainly produced from the dust of raw materials [4, 7, 11, 27, 28]. Workers are affected by inhaling dust in the workplace which results in these ongoing respiratory problems.…”

“…RMG workers are frequently affected by various types of diseases mainly due to the unhygienic workplace conditions and the dust produced from raw materials [6, 7]. They are reported as developing several health issues including coughs, fevers, jaundice, kidney failure, musculoskeletal problems, respiratory problems, and sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS [4, 14–17] as a result of their employment, and thus RMG workers experience illness and become unable to continue working.…”

Determinants of occupational hazards knowledge and safety practices among textile workers in Karachi, Pakistan: a cross sectional study

“…This study also reported low knowledge levels regarding occupational lung disease, mean score of 7.59±0.89 and low mean prevention practices score of 8.82±3.43. 6 Another study from Nigeria among textile workers reported that most workers had good knowledge (74%), and positive attitude (81%), while only 20% had safe practices. Important predictors of workers' knowledge, and attitude identified by the Nigerian study were formal education, permanent employment and working <5 days a week.…”