Qualitative Study to Explore the Occupational and Reproductive Health Challenges among Women Tobacco Farm Laborers in Mysore District, India-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Qualitative Study to Explore the Occupational and Reproductive Health Challenges among Women Tobacco Farm Laborers in Mysore District, India

Published:2024-05-09 Issue:5 Volume:21 Page:606
ISSN:1660-4601
Container-title:International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
language:en
Short-container-title:IJERPH

Author:

Ravi Priyanka¹,Muralidhar Kiranmayee²,Ngaybe Maiya G. Block¹^ORCID,Nanjaiah Shivamma²,Jayakrishna Poornima²,Lowe Ashley A.³⁴,Krupp Karl²⁵^ORCID,Wilson Amanda M.⁶^ORCID,von Hippel Frank A.⁶,Chen Zhao⁷,Gerald Lynn B.⁸,Madhivanan Purnima¹²^ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA

2. Public Health Research Institute of India (PHRII), Mysore 570020, Karnataka, India

3. Advanced Nursing Practice and Science Division, College of Nursing, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA

4. Asthma & Airway Disease Research Center, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA

5. Public Health Practice, Policy, and Translational Research Department, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA

6. Community, Environment & Policy Department, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA

7. Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA

8. Office of Population Health Sciences, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA

Abstract

Tobacco farm laborers are primarily women and children working for very low wages. The aim of this study was to explore occupational and reproductive health challenges faced by women tobacco farm laborers in Mysore District, India. We conducted interviews and six focus group discussions among 41 women tobacco farm laborers. Codes and themes were generated based on deductive and inductive approaches using the socioecological model. Participants reported symptoms of green tobacco sickness including headaches, back pain, gastric problems, weakness, and allergies during menstruation, pre-natal, and post-natal periods. Participants had poor awareness about the health effects of tobacco farming, and there were gender inequalities in wages and the use of personal protective equipment. Participants received support from family and community health workers during their pregnancy and post-natal period. Women reported wanting maternity benefits from the tobacco board, as well as monetary support and nutritional supplements. There is a need for health education about the environmental dangers of tobacco among farm laborers, and more supportive policies for women farmworkers during pregnancy and post-natal periods.

Funder

University of Arizona’s 2022 Global Health Institute Scholars Program

Publisher

MDPI AG

Link

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/5/606/pdf

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