Prevalence, predictors and economic burden of morbidities among waste-pickers of Mumbai, India: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background The occupation of waste-picking characterised as 3Ds – dangerous, drudgery and demanding. In this context, the study aimed to assess occupational morbidities among the waste-pickers and attempts to identify potential individual level risk factors enhancing health risks. Additiona...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12995-017-0176-3 |
| _version_ | 1811308131012050944 |
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| author | Praveen Chokhandre Shrikant Singh Gyan Chandra Kashyap |
| author_facet | Praveen Chokhandre Shrikant Singh Gyan Chandra Kashyap |
| author_sort | Praveen Chokhandre |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The occupation of waste-picking characterised as 3Ds – dangerous, drudgery and demanding. In this context, the study aimed to assess occupational morbidities among the waste-pickers and attempts to identify potential individual level risk factors enhancing health risks. Additionally, economic burden of morbidities has been assessed. Methods The burden of the morbidities was assessed and compared with a comparison group through a cross-sectional survey. Waste-pickers (n = 200) and a comparison group (n = 103) working for at least a year were randomly selected from the communities living on the edge of the Deonar dumping site. The difference in the prevalence of morbidities was tested using the chi-square test. The effect of waste picking resulting the development of morbidities was assessed using the propensity score matching (PSM) method. A multivariate logistic regression model was employed to identify the individual risk factors. T-test has been employed in order to analyse the difference in health care expenditure between waste pickers and non-waste pickers. Results The prevalence of morbidities was significantly higher among the waste-pickers, particularly for injuries (75%), respiratory illness (28%), eye infection (29%), and stomach problems (32%), compared to the comparison group (17%, 15%, 18%, and 19% respectively). The results of the PSM method highlighted that waste-picking raised the risk of morbidity for injuries (62%) and respiratory illness (13%). Results of logistic regression suggest that low level of hygiene practices [household cleanliness (OR = 3.23, p < 0.00), non-use of soap before meals (OR = 2.65, p < 0.05)] and use of recyclable items as a cooking fuel (OR = 2.12, p < 0.03) enhanced health risks among the waste pickers when adjusted for the age, duration of work, duration of stay in community and substance use. Additionally, the high prevalence of morbidities among waste pickers resulted into higher healthcare expenditure. Findings of the study suggest that not only healthcare expenditure but persistence of illness and work days lost due to injury/illness is significantly higher among waste pickers compared to non-waste pickers. Conclusions The study concluded that waste-picking raised the risk of morbidities as also expenditure on healthcare. Results from the study recommend several measures to lessen the morbidities and thereby incurred healthcare expenditure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:16:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45706783b06543fa820ae86437b4cf8d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1745-6673 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:16:38Z |
| publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology |
| spelling | doaj.art-45706783b06543fa820ae86437b4cf8d2022-12-22T02:52:43ZengBMCJournal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology1745-66732017-10-011211810.1186/s12995-017-0176-3Prevalence, predictors and economic burden of morbidities among waste-pickers of Mumbai, India: a cross-sectional studyPraveen Chokhandre0Shrikant Singh1Gyan Chandra Kashyap2International Institute for Population SciencesDepartment of Mathematical Demography & Statistics, International Institute for Population SciencesInternational Institute for Population SciencesAbstract Background The occupation of waste-picking characterised as 3Ds – dangerous, drudgery and demanding. In this context, the study aimed to assess occupational morbidities among the waste-pickers and attempts to identify potential individual level risk factors enhancing health risks. Additionally, economic burden of morbidities has been assessed. Methods The burden of the morbidities was assessed and compared with a comparison group through a cross-sectional survey. Waste-pickers (n = 200) and a comparison group (n = 103) working for at least a year were randomly selected from the communities living on the edge of the Deonar dumping site. The difference in the prevalence of morbidities was tested using the chi-square test. The effect of waste picking resulting the development of morbidities was assessed using the propensity score matching (PSM) method. A multivariate logistic regression model was employed to identify the individual risk factors. T-test has been employed in order to analyse the difference in health care expenditure between waste pickers and non-waste pickers. Results The prevalence of morbidities was significantly higher among the waste-pickers, particularly for injuries (75%), respiratory illness (28%), eye infection (29%), and stomach problems (32%), compared to the comparison group (17%, 15%, 18%, and 19% respectively). The results of the PSM method highlighted that waste-picking raised the risk of morbidity for injuries (62%) and respiratory illness (13%). Results of logistic regression suggest that low level of hygiene practices [household cleanliness (OR = 3.23, p < 0.00), non-use of soap before meals (OR = 2.65, p < 0.05)] and use of recyclable items as a cooking fuel (OR = 2.12, p < 0.03) enhanced health risks among the waste pickers when adjusted for the age, duration of work, duration of stay in community and substance use. Additionally, the high prevalence of morbidities among waste pickers resulted into higher healthcare expenditure. Findings of the study suggest that not only healthcare expenditure but persistence of illness and work days lost due to injury/illness is significantly higher among waste pickers compared to non-waste pickers. Conclusions The study concluded that waste-picking raised the risk of morbidities as also expenditure on healthcare. Results from the study recommend several measures to lessen the morbidities and thereby incurred healthcare expenditure.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12995-017-0176-3InjuriesOccupational morbiditiesRespiratory illnessStomach problemsWaste-pickers |
| spellingShingle | Praveen Chokhandre Shrikant Singh Gyan Chandra Kashyap Prevalence, predictors and economic burden of morbidities among waste-pickers of Mumbai, India: a cross-sectional study Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology Injuries Occupational morbidities Respiratory illness Stomach problems Waste-pickers |
| title | Prevalence, predictors and economic burden of morbidities among waste-pickers of Mumbai, India: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Prevalence, predictors and economic burden of morbidities among waste-pickers of Mumbai, India: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence, predictors and economic burden of morbidities among waste-pickers of Mumbai, India: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence, predictors and economic burden of morbidities among waste-pickers of Mumbai, India: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Prevalence, predictors and economic burden of morbidities among waste-pickers of Mumbai, India: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | prevalence predictors and economic burden of morbidities among waste pickers of mumbai india a cross sectional study |
| topic | Injuries Occupational morbidities Respiratory illness Stomach problems Waste-pickers |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12995-017-0176-3 |
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