Quality of life of workers with disabilities in readymade garments factories in Bangladesh

Background: Bangladesh's readymade garment (RMG) sector has developed as a major employer for individuals with disabilities. The number of workers with disabilities in Bangladesh's RMG industry has grown over the past few years. In Bangladesh, there has no statistics about the quality of life of workers with disabilities after their employment, especially after training-based employment support. Therefore, the researcher is interested to find out the quality of life of workers with disabilities in readymade garments factories in Bangladesh that will determine satisfaction over their life in different aspects. The objectives of this paper were to find out the health-related quality of life and overall satisfaction with life among workers with disabilities in the readymade garment sector in Bangladesh. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design and recruited 102 participants with disabilities from various Bangladeshi garment factories who ranged up to 18 years by convenient sampling. The WHOQOL questionnaires were used for data collection through a combination of telephone and in-person interviews. Descriptive statistics were used for the data analysis. Results: Among the total participants 63% of them were women and 37% were men. The results revealed that education and job status significantly impacted on QOL. The majority of participants did not need any assistive devices; most of the participants resided in semi-urban areas, and physical disabilities predominated among them. On the other hand, most of the participants reported their quality of life as neither poor nor good but they were satisfied with health-related QOL. Conclusions: QOL is a vast aspect of every human being. This study finally concluded the overall QOL of maximum Workers with Disabilities in Readymade Garments Factories in Bangladesh was just average and most of them were satisfied with their health-related QOL.

Quality of life of workers with disabilities in readymade garments factories in Bangladesh

Background: Bangladesh's readymade garment (RMG) sector has developed as a major employer for individuals with disabilities. The number of workers with disabilities in Bangladesh's RMG industry has grown over the past few years. In Bangladesh, there has no statistics about the quality of life of workers with disabilities after their employment, especially after training-based employment support. Therefore, the researcher is interested to find out the quality of life of workers with disabilities in readymade garments factories in Bangladesh that will determine satisfaction over their life in different aspects. The objectives of this paper were to find out the health-related quality of life and overall satisfaction with life among workers with disabilities in the readymade garment sector in Bangladesh. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design and recruited 102 participants with disabilities from various Bangladeshi garment factories who ranged up to 18 years by convenient sampling. The WHOQOL questionnaires were used for data collection through a combination of telephone and in-person interviews. Descriptive statistics were used for the data analysis. Results: Among the total participants 63% of them were women and 37% were men. The results revealed that education and job status significantly impacted on QOL. The majority of participants did not need any assistive devices; most of the participants resided in semi-urban areas, and physical disabilities predominated among them. On the other hand, most of the participants reported their quality of life as neither poor nor good but they were satisfied with health-related QOL. Conclusions: QOL is a vast aspect of every human being. This study finally concluded the overall QOL of maximum Workers with Disabilities in Readymade Garments Factories in Bangladesh was just average and most of them were satisfied with their health-related QOL.

Association between BMI and plantar fasciitis among hospital staff in a selected hospital of Dhaka city

Background: Plantar fasciitis described as the inflammation of planter fascia, particularly hampering an individual’s daily living activities related to ankle and foot that impact on quality of life. The study aimed to identify the association between BMI and planter fasciitis among hospital staff in a selected hospital in Dhaka city. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Results: Mean±SD age of the respondents were 29.03±6.56 years. Among the hospital staff, the majority of the respondents were nurses 31.25%, 13.02% respondents were physician and 2.07% of respondents were physiotherapists, others were pharmacist, lab technician, administration staff, cleaner, security, information technologists and officers from the maintenance department of selected hospital. According to BMI scale the 65% were normal weight, 23% were overweight and only 12% were obese. In this study respondents who have only two family members, have strong relationships with BMI (p<0.00). Besides, the duration of work has a slightly significant relation with BMI (p<0.03) and BMI has a strong impact on level of pain (p<0.01) among respondents. Conclusions: The recommendation for risk variables that have a strong correlation with plantar fasciitis is the working status, duration, and BMI.

Renal function impairment in Hypothyroidism.

Background: Hypothyroidism is an important public health problem in Bangladesh. It is associated with increased risk for atherosclerosis and other complications. The frank development of hypothyroidism is associated with metabolic derangements including dyslipidemia- which is an etiopathologic factor for development of renal impairment. This study was to evaluate whether hypothyroidism is associated with impaired renal function. Methods: Using a cross sectional analytical study design, a total of 111 subjects attending Out Patient Department, Center for Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasound, Bogra Medical College during January 2007 to December 2007 were included purposively. Eighty newly diagnosed hypothyroid patients (Group I) and 31 healthy adults (Group II) were enrolled in this study. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone and serum free thyroxine were assayed by radioimmunoassay. Serum fasting lipid profile, serum creatinine and serum uric acid were estimated by enzymatic colorimetric method. Estimated GFR was calculated using MDRD equation. Results: The mean (±SD) age of in Group I and Group II were 35.59 (±6.91) and 37.35 (±2.78) years and were comparable. In Group I, there were 66 females and 14 males. In Group II, there were 16 females and 15 males. The mean BMI was 25.49 ±2.17 kg/m2 in Group I and 24.24 ±1.99 kg/m2 in Group II. The mean (±SD) Serum total-cholesterol, LDL- cholesterol and tryacylglycerol in Group I were significantly higher than that in Group II. Serum HDL cholesterol in Group I was significantly lower than that in Group II (p<0.001). The mean (±SD) serum creatinine was significantly higher in Group I than Group II (P<0.001). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was lower in Group I compared to Group II (p=0.011). In Group I (Hypothyroid), there were significant correlations of BMI, S Total-Cholesterol, S HDLCholesterol, S LDL-Cholesterol, S triglycerides and S creatinine with serum TSH level. In Group I (Hypothyroid), there were significant positive correlations of BMI and TSH with serum creatinine. Conclusions: Hypothyroidism is associated with dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia and impaired renal function. Therefore, patients presenting with these biochemical abnormalities are recommended to be investigated for hypothyroidism and vice versa.