Burden of Occupational Morbidities and Their Determinants among Sugarcane Factory Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Rapid industrial expansion has increased occupational health challenges, particularly in sugarcane workers facing multiple workplace related health challenges. Due to bagasse exposure respiratory problems like COPD and asthma are common. Other health issues are musculoskeletal disorders, skin irritations, heat stress, dehydration and mental health issues due to long working hours and increased exposure. In 2016, 1.88 million deaths and 89.72 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were attributed by occupational hazards. Aim of this study to find out prevalence of various morbidities among sugarcane factory workers and their associated factors. Material and methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted in randomly selected Government sugarcane factory of District Saharanpur, among 343 factory workers for a period of one year. Pretested semi structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Collected data was analysed using appropriate statistical tests. Result: Among 343 sugarcane workers, common morbidities included noise-related problems (36.4%), communication difficulty (21.3%), tinnitus (7.9%) and hearing loss (7.3%). Bagasse dust–related morbidity was seen in 29.2% workers. Other issues faced were chronic cough (21.6%), heat-related problems (17.5%), recurrent infections (13.1%), musculoskeletal disorders and mental health problems (10.8% each), dehydration (10.5%) and injuries (5.8%). Morbidities were significantly associated with work area and longer working hours. Noise and dust problems were more common in workers with <2 years’ experience, while longer tenure showed increased musculoskeletal and mental health problems. Conclusion: Occupational hazards adversely affect workers’ health, safety and organizational efficiency, it is preventable through regular training and adoption of proper safety measures.