OCCUPATIONAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH WORKING WOMEN IN CITY FAISALABAD

Abstract

Background: Female health is an on growing challenge in developed as well as less developed countries. Since last few decades there has been quite an improvement of female representation in job sector in Pakistan. This change has led to numerous problems, mainly the health of working female and least support by the employers. In the current study we investigated health of working women. Objective: Our main objectives of this study were to identify socio-economic characteristics of respondents, type of occupational factors, investigate the problems and impact of the occupational risk factors on the reproductive health. .Study design: Descriptive inferential study. Setting: We recruited the n=200 participants in this study from the industrial capital of Pakistan, district Faisalabad. Period: Jan 2018 to Dec 2018. Material & Methods: Questionnaire based survey has been used to collect the data. All of the statistical analyses were performed SPSS version 16. Results: Out of 200 study participants, 46.5% were belonging to age group of 36-45years, 40.5% were illiterate and 50.5% of respondent's husbands were labor. Our results indicated that females are facing social, psychological and physical health problems. Among the physical health problem we found that numerous females have been through the devastating outcomes such as miscarriages, damage menstrual cycle, unconceivable or unstable pregnancy, premature birth, uterine contraction, leukemia and effect on fetus. Conclusion: Our results indicate that we need to revise the policies regarding working environment such as exposure to chemicals, radiation, biological agents. Furthermore, in order to address the emerging psychological distress, it is recommended to renegotiate with the employers on work conditions, health benefits and child care.