Assessment of nutritional status and health challenges among female garment workers: a cross-sectional study

Background: The economic status of women is now accepted as an indicator of a society’s development in Bangladesh. Women workers like the majority in the informal sector have been exposed to rigorous work, discipline, fixed working hours, specific production norms etc. The aim of the study was to perform cross-sectional study was conducted to assess nutritional status of female garment workers in Chattogram, Bangladesh. Methods: The study was conducted with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire to collect data from the respondents by face-to-face interview. Informed written consent was obtained from the respondents. A checklist containing height and weight (measured using measuring tape and digital weight machine respectively) of the respondents included in the questionnaire. Results: According to the study, gastrointestinal problem was reported by 49.7% and the rest reported problem were respiratory problem (35.3%), skin problem (27.3%), urinary problem (18%), eye problem (15%). Age, marital status, number of children, family member, monthly income, job section, working hours and overtime were significantly associated with various types of health problem. Respondents were categorized into underweight (?18.5 kg/m2), normal (18.6-24.9 kg/m2) and overweight and above (?25.0 kg/m2) using BMI. Prevalence of underweight, normal and overweight and above were 3.3%, 61.3% and 35.3% respectively. Conclusions: Female worker’s age, marital status, number of children, monthly income, job duration, job section and overtime showed significant association with their nutritional status (BMI). Findings of this study may play an important role to develop a policy and in commercial sector of our country to reduce health problem of the female garment workers for better productive and healthy lifestyle.

Epidemiología en tiempos modernos / Epidemiology in modern times

El constante avance de las enfermedades, así como el continuo cambio sociodemográfico ha obligado a las ciencias médicas a profundizar en el campo de la investigación de la causalidad y la prevención. Para ello, la epidemiología, cuyo eje principal es romper paradigmas, ha sufrido una evolución muy rápida a nivel mundial. Los retos en salud cada vez son mayores, por lo que la formación de más especialistas en epidemiología es una necesidad prioritaria.

The constant advance of diseases, as well as the continuous socio-demographic change has made medical sciences to dig deep in the field of causal research and prevention. For this, epidemiology, whose main axis is to break paradigms, has undergone a very rapid evolution worldwide. Health challenges are becoming greater, which is why training more specialists in epidemiology is a priority need.

Climate change and its impact on vector-borne diseases.

Climate change is one of the most critical global challenges of our times and its issue of concern for every global citizen. Many important public health challenges are attributed to climate change and rise of vector-borne diseases is one of them. The most deadly vector-borne disease, malaria, caused an estimated 660000 deaths in 2010. However, the world's fastest growing vector-borne disease is dengue, with a 30-fold increase in disease incidence over the last 50 years. Multiple factors have impact on transmission of vector-borne diseases, and causing their appearance in countries where they were previously unknown.

Public Health Challenges for Universal Health Coverage.

The effective functioning of any health system requires an effi cient public health service. Every human being has the right to enjoy “the highest attainable standard of health,” which can be fulfi lled by giving every man an affordable and equitable health system he deserves and demands. In these years, complex health changes have complicated the situation in India. Most important gaps in the health care include an understanding of the burden of the disease and what leads to and causes ill health, the availability and use of appropriate technology in the management of disease, ill health and health systems that have an impact on service delivery. Universal Health Coverage (UHC) has the potential to increase economic growth, improve educational opportunities, reduce impoverishment and inequalities, and foster social cohesion. Steps taken for achieving UHC will address the public health challenges and vice versa.