Rag pickers are informal workers who collect recyclable materials to earn a small wage on daily b... more Rag pickers are informal workers who collect recyclable materials to earn a small wage on daily basis. Their life and working conditions are extremely difficult. This paper examined the health status, occupational and environmental health hazards among rag-pickers working in dumping ground of Shivaji-Nagar and Govandi Slums of Mumbai, India. The cross-sectional study gathered data by interviewing 120 rag pickers during the Masters in Public Health course curriculum at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in the year 2012-13. The Occupational and environmental health (Physical & Mental) hazards were assessed using a standard self-reporting questionnaire. Convenient sampling was used to select the rag pickers from the slums of Mumbai. The study shows, rag-pickers suffer from physical as well as mental ill health. The reason for engaged in such kind of work is due to not having other skills and easy or daily income. Most of them are having habits such as tobacco-chewing and consumption. Dog bite and rat bite are common among Rag-pickers. Redness of eyes, headache, backache, accidental injuries are very common among Rag-pickers. Substance abuse itself is one of the mental disorders present among Rag-pickers. Majority of them are associated with mild depression and mild anxiety as common mental disorders. Rag pickers more frequently report physical and mental health problems. Improving the work lives of these precarious workers should address not only the physical hazards of their jobs but their mental and emotional health as well. Unfulfilled health needs of this underprivileged workforce who contributes to the ecology and economy of the city need to be addressed. Sensitization of both general public and government workforce is essential to legitimize this occupation. This in turn may help to alleviate poverty and environmental degradation which is occurring due to rapid and unplanned urbanization in India.
Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem prevailing in the rural and urban ... more Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem prevailing in the rural and urban areas of India. A study was conducted to assess the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices regarding tuberculosis among slum pockets of western Mumbai. Material and methods: Cross sectional quantitative study conducted using a pre-validated WHO KAP questionnaire. Random walk technique stratified by daytime was used. Descriptive analysis and inferential statistics (Chi-square test) were used. Result: A total of 140 participants were interviewed. Knowledge received from friends, neighbors reported more (58%) in NCC and squatters colony as compared Ambujwadi (48.6%). People held compassion and desire to help people living with TB (59.3%), but only 1.4% participants had reported actual support to TB patients in need. Stigma of TB (80.0%) is one of the most difficult challenges which attributed to hiding of TB disease status. Almost all respondents agreed that people hide TB status because of " fear that people will avoid them " .BMC corporation hospital (82.9 %) is the first choice of health seeking among the study participants however only 7.9 % of people knew about DOTs. Gender (p<0.005) and educational status (p<0.05) were found significantly associated with the knowledge of TB. Conclusion: Knowledge towards tuberculosis within the population is poor. It suggests that specialized educational programs should be developed for community to promote awareness regarding TB. The findings regarding attitude
Background: Malaria continues to be one of the major public health concerns that India is facing ... more Background: Malaria continues to be one of the major public health concerns that India is facing since decades. Early identification and management of malaria prevents its complications and subsequent mortality due to it. Several studies across the globe showed that, misconception of malaria still exists and practices of controlling malaria have been unsatisfactory indicating further need of exploring the knowledge, attitude and practices of malaria among the people of high Annual Parasite Incidence (API) states, district and blocks.
Background: The growing burden of non-communicable diseases among the urban poor in the absence o... more Background: The growing burden of non-communicable diseases among the urban poor in the absence of affordable health care services is a big public health challenge in India. In this context, the present paper explores the utilization pattern of health services to deal with two specific non-communicable diseases (NCD) namely hypertension and diabetes. Methods: The study was conducted in Turbhe Stores in Navi Mumbai, a slum of 5014 households. An initial listing of the households revealed that there was at least one person suffering from either hypertension, diabetes or both in 254 households. By systematic random sampling, 84 respondents suffering from diabetes and/or hypertension from last one year were selected from these 254 households. Data was collected by structured interview schedule. Results: Three fourths of the respondents had utilised health service for their problem. About 95% sought medical care from private providers and almost all sought approached allopathic practitioner. Only half of respondents went for regular monthly follow up and almost 75 percent were found self-medication of old prescriptions for their treatment. Poor follow up and non-regular utilization of health services was mainly influenced by the individual perception of not giving importance of regular treatment and lack of attention due to asymptomatic nature of disease, followed by financial constraints. Conclusions: Self-awareness about the disease and importance of regular treatment & follow up is found lacking in the community. Health care services were regularly utilized for these silent diseases by those who can afford it. Factors like ability to afford costly treatment, high satisfaction level from the treatment sought and proximity of health care provider were found strongly associated with higher utilization.
Rag pickers are informal workers who collect recyclable materials to earn a small wage on daily b... more Rag pickers are informal workers who collect recyclable materials to earn a small wage on daily basis. Their life and working conditions are extremely difficult. This paper examined the health status, occupational and environmental health hazards among rag-pickers working in dumping ground of Shivaji-Nagar and Govandi Slums of Mumbai, India. The cross-sectional study gathered data by interviewing 120 rag pickers during the Masters in Public Health course curriculum at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in the year 2012-13. The Occupational and environmental health (Physical & Mental) hazards were assessed using a standard self-reporting questionnaire. Convenient sampling was used to select the rag pickers from the slums of Mumbai. The study shows, rag-pickers suffer from physical as well as mental ill health. The reason for engaged in such kind of work is due to not having other skills and easy or daily income. Most of them are having habits such as tobacco-chewing and consumption. Dog bite and rat bite are common among Rag-pickers. Redness of eyes, headache, backache, accidental injuries are very common among Rag-pickers. Substance abuse itself is one of the mental disorders present among Rag-pickers. Majority of them are associated with mild depression and mild anxiety as common mental disorders. Rag pickers more frequently report physical and mental health problems. Improving the work lives of these precarious workers should address not only the physical hazards of their jobs but their mental and emotional health as well. Unfulfilled health needs of this underprivileged workforce who contributes to the ecology and economy of the city need to be addressed. Sensitization of both general public and government workforce is essential to legitimize this occupation. This in turn may help to alleviate poverty and environmental degradation which is occurring due to rapid and unplanned urbanization in India.
Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem prevailing in the rural and urban ... more Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem prevailing in the rural and urban areas of India. A study was conducted to assess the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices regarding tuberculosis among slum pockets of western Mumbai. Material and methods: Cross sectional quantitative study conducted using a pre-validated WHO KAP questionnaire. Random walk technique stratified by daytime was used. Descriptive analysis and inferential statistics (Chi-square test) were used. Result: A total of 140 participants were interviewed. Knowledge received from friends, neighbors reported more (58%) in NCC and squatters colony as compared Ambujwadi (48.6%). People held compassion and desire to help people living with TB (59.3%), but only 1.4% participants had reported actual support to TB patients in need. Stigma of TB (80.0%) is one of the most difficult challenges which attributed to hiding of TB disease status. Almost all respondents agreed that people hide TB status because of " fear that people will avoid them " .BMC corporation hospital (82.9 %) is the first choice of health seeking among the study participants however only 7.9 % of people knew about DOTs. Gender (p<0.005) and educational status (p<0.05) were found significantly associated with the knowledge of TB. Conclusion: Knowledge towards tuberculosis within the population is poor. It suggests that specialized educational programs should be developed for community to promote awareness regarding TB. The findings regarding attitude
Background: Malaria continues to be one of the major public health concerns that India is facing ... more Background: Malaria continues to be one of the major public health concerns that India is facing since decades. Early identification and management of malaria prevents its complications and subsequent mortality due to it. Several studies across the globe showed that, misconception of malaria still exists and practices of controlling malaria have been unsatisfactory indicating further need of exploring the knowledge, attitude and practices of malaria among the people of high Annual Parasite Incidence (API) states, district and blocks.
Background: The growing burden of non-communicable diseases among the urban poor in the absence o... more Background: The growing burden of non-communicable diseases among the urban poor in the absence of affordable health care services is a big public health challenge in India. In this context, the present paper explores the utilization pattern of health services to deal with two specific non-communicable diseases (NCD) namely hypertension and diabetes. Methods: The study was conducted in Turbhe Stores in Navi Mumbai, a slum of 5014 households. An initial listing of the households revealed that there was at least one person suffering from either hypertension, diabetes or both in 254 households. By systematic random sampling, 84 respondents suffering from diabetes and/or hypertension from last one year were selected from these 254 households. Data was collected by structured interview schedule. Results: Three fourths of the respondents had utilised health service for their problem. About 95% sought medical care from private providers and almost all sought approached allopathic practitioner. Only half of respondents went for regular monthly follow up and almost 75 percent were found self-medication of old prescriptions for their treatment. Poor follow up and non-regular utilization of health services was mainly influenced by the individual perception of not giving importance of regular treatment and lack of attention due to asymptomatic nature of disease, followed by financial constraints. Conclusions: Self-awareness about the disease and importance of regular treatment & follow up is found lacking in the community. Health care services were regularly utilized for these silent diseases by those who can afford it. Factors like ability to afford costly treatment, high satisfaction level from the treatment sought and proximity of health care provider were found strongly associated with higher utilization.
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