TY - JOUR
T1 - Qualitative Study to Explore the Occupational and Reproductive Health Challenges among Women Tobacco Farm Laborers in Mysore District, India
AU - Ravi, Priyanka
AU - Muralidhar, Kiranmayee
AU - Ngaybe, Maiya G.Block
AU - Nanjaiah, Shivamma
AU - Jayakrishna, Poornima
AU - Lowe, Ashley A.
AU - Krupp, Karl
AU - Wilson, Amanda M.
AU - von Hippel, Frank A.
AU - Chen, Zhao
AU - Gerald, Lynn B.
AU - Madhivanan, Purnima
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 by the authors.
PY - 2024/5
Y1 - 2024/5
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - focus group discussion
KW - occupational health
KW - reproductive health
KW - tobacco farmers
KW - tobacco farming
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85194219662&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85194219662&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph21050606
DO - 10.3390/ijerph21050606
M3 - Article
C2 - 38791820
AN - SCOPUS:85194219662
SN - 1661-7827
VL - 21
JO - International journal of environmental research and public health
JF - International journal of environmental research and public health
IS - 5
M1 - 606
ER -