Study of health problems and nutritional status of tea garden population of Assam
Medhi, G.K.; Hazarika, N.C.; Shah, B.; Mahanta, J.
Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 60(12): 496-505
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5359 PMID: 17130664 Document Number: 198853
BACKGROUND: Assam is the highest tea producer state in India. 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 in the Dibrugarh District of Assam. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics of the 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 4016 participants, 1863 were male and 2153 were female. They were mostly illiterate, and nearly 52.9% (1197 of 2264) 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% (1213 of 1735). Anaemia was widespread. Worm infection (65.4%, 217 of 332), skin problems, respiratory infections (including tuberculosis), and filariasis were present in a significant number of the subjects. Children suffered more in various diseases. Major non-communicable diseases, like hypertension and stroke, were emerging in the community and were associated with modifiable risk factors like alcohol and tobacco use. CONCLUSION: The health status of the population can be improved through better hygienic practices, environmental sanitation, creating health awareness, nutritional intervention, and overall improvement of the socioeconomic conditions of the population.