Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2023 Sep 16:1-32. doi: 10.1080/10803548.2023.2260168. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Poor health outcomes of Bangladeshi readymade garment (RMG) workers tend to be associated with a variety of occupational factors. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of, and risk factors associated with, the physical and psychological health outcomes of Bangladeshi RMG workers.
METHODS: Responses to a cross-sectional survey from a convenience sample of 411 adult Bangladeshi RMG workers (mean age = 26.24 years; SD = 6.40 years; female = 80%) were analysed using the bivariate and multivariate (logistic regression models) analyses.
RESULTS: More than half of the participants reported headaches (61.6%) and colds/flu (51.3%), followed by fever (37.2%), diarrhoea (32.8%), bodily pain (29.9%), and respiratory infections (20.9%). For psychological health, stress (69.1%), anxiety (66.2%), and boredom (64.5%) were most prevalent followed by sleeplessness (51.3%) and depression (48.2%), and fear (34.3%). RMG workers from the factories located in Chattogram (a peripheral region compared to Dhaka) reported poorer physical and psychological health outcomes than those working in Dhaka (the capital city of Bangladesh)-based factory workers. Overall, compared to males, female RMG workers were more likely to be vulnerable to both physical and psychological health outcomes.
CONCLUSION: Improvement in workplace conditions and safety programs is needed to safeguard the overall health outcomes of Bangladeshi RMG workers.
PMID:37715515 | DOI:10.1080/10803548.2023.2260168
