Assessment of Health Profile of Zari Workers with Special Reference to Musculoskeletal Disorders in an Urban Slum of Mumbai, India

Zari making is a kind of occupation which comes under unorganized sector and most of these units are situated in slums. Workers employed in these industries have to bear the brunt of unhygienic working conditions coupled with no health or safety measures. Little has been published about the known or suspected health risk of workers employed in zari work, despite it forming the livelihood of so many people in underdeveloped area. The present study was carried out to assess the health profile of workers employed in zari industry and put forth recommendations in order to improve and maintain their health status. A cross sectional study was done on 800 subjects, using pre-formed, pre-tested, semistructured questionnaire. Information was collected regarding various morbidities and their working environment. Most of the workers (68%) complained of pain related to musculoskeletal system. Backache, both upper and lower was the main complaint (73%) which was significantly associated with the duration of work. Thus present study demonstrated that zari workers were suffering from varied morbidities which were associated with their occupational environment. So regulation of their working environment and periodical medical examination of the workers should be done to improve their health status.