Jornal de Efeitos e Controle da Poluição
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Abstrato

Prevalence of Health Diseases among Bangladeshi Tannery Workers and associated Risk factors with Workplace Investigation

Mahamudul Hasan MD, Hosain S, Asaduzzaman AM, Haque MA and Roy UK

Background: The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of health hazards through analyzing different diseases among tannery workers and to identify risks factors of these diseases in tannery workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted from May 2016 to July 2016 on tannery workers of the industrial area Hazaribagh, Dhaka. Data collection was done among 276 tannery workers engaged in different tanneries located at the area. Face to face interview was performed using a questionnaire and skin diseases faced by the workers were identified by trained medical students. Results: The prevalence of diseases was found as gastrointestinal problem 71.7%, Diarrhea 71.7%, Blood pressure 52.2%, Asthma 49.9%, Eye problem 46.7%. Skin disease prevailed in the following order: Scabies 73.9%, Nail discoloration 69.6%, Urticaria 59.7%, Miliria and foliculities 56.5%. Again negligence of using personal protective equipment named safety boots, gloves and googles have significant influence (p<0.001) on higher prevalence of asthma, eye problems and nail discoloration. Moreover, working areas of pre-tanning and tanning have significant (P<0.001) association with the higher prevalence of scabies and miliria and foliculities. Conclusion: Prevalence of diseases among the tannery workers are very high and is extremely associated with different working areas of leather processing and the lack of proper PPE (Personal protective equipment) using. The risk factors responsible for these health hazards can be eliminated through improving the overall working condition and ensuring the necessary protective regulatory for the Bangladeshi tannery workers.