Prevalence and risk factors of physical and psychological health among readymade garment workers in Bangladesh

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

School

School of Arts and Humanities

RAS ID

60719

Funders

Research Training Program Scholarship / Australian Commonwealth Government

Comments

Kabir, H., Bhullar, N., Islam, M. S., Usher, K., Haque, M. E., & Maple, M. (2023). Prevalence and risk factors of physical and psychological health among readymade garment workers in Bangladesh. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 29(4), 1572-1583. https://doi.org/10.1080/10803548.2023.2260168

Abstract

Objective. Poor health outcomes of Bangladeshi readymade garment (RMG) workers tend to be associated with a variety of occupational factors. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of, and risk factors associated with, the physical and psychological health outcomes of Bangladeshi RMG workers. Methods. Responses to a cross-sectional survey from a convenience sample of 411 adult Bangladeshi RMG workers (mean age = 26.24 years; SD 6.40 years; female = 80%) were analysed using bivariate and multivariate (logistic regression models) analyses. Results. More than half of the participants reported headaches (61.6%) and colds/flu (51.3%), followed by fever (37.2%), diarrhoea (32.8%), bodily pain (29.9%) and respiratory infections (20.9%). For psychological health, stress (69.1%), anxiety (66.2%) and boredom (64.5%) were most prevalent, followed by sleeplessness (51.3%), depression (48.2%) and fear (34.3%). RMG workers from the factories located in Chattogram (a peripheral region compared to Dhaka) reported poorer physical and psychological health outcomes than those working in factories in Dhaka (the capital city of Bangladesh). Overall, compared to males, female RMG workers were more likely to be vulnerable to both physical and psychological health outcomes. Conclusion. Improvement in workplace conditions and safety programmes is needed to safeguard the overall health outcomes of Bangladeshi RMG workers.

DOI

10.1080/10803548.2023.2260168

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