An Epidemiological Cross- sectional Comparative Study of Morbidity Profile in an Automobile Manufacturing Unit

Introduction: Occupational etiology as a determinant of morbidity risk factor is often correlated but difficult to signify. An automobile manufacturing unit was chosen for study with the aim to study the socioeconomic, demographic & occupational profile of 2 groups- 1) workers & junior management & 2) senior management, to identify & assess the morbidity factors influencing them, to make comparison of the factors between the two groups & deduce inference & to suggest recommendations for controlling them. Method: The study design used was a cross- sectional simple random sampling study done over a period of 12 months in 2013-14. The sample sizes were 923 & 229 respectively. Study inclusion criteria: All permanent workers working for more than 2 years, willing for check-up. Group 1- up to Manager grade & group 2- senior manager & above. Exclusion criteria: Workers not willing to participate. Study process: Informed consent, structured interview, clinical check-up with documentation & data analysis by MS Excel 2007 software. Results: Average age for the two groups were 40.05 ± 9.54 years & 46.9 ± 6.22 years respectively, literacy level (more than secondary level) 30% & 100% respectively, experience 15.3 ± 3.1 years & 6.7 ± 2.4 years, job profile- work in hazardous areas & sedentary in group 1 while more of sedentary nature but supervisory in hazardous areas in group 2, co-morbid factors like addiction 21 ± 5% & 9 ± 2.74%, obesity 49 ± 9.4% & 65 ± 6.29%, hypertension 20 ± 5.5% & 23 ± 10.25% , diabetes mellitus 4 ± 2.2% & 8 ± 4.5%, high stress levels 5 ± 2.3% & 24 ± 7.9%, dyslipidemia 4 ± 2.4% & 22 ± 6.97%, with sedentary lifestyle 6 ± 2.3% & 21 ± 5.3%, other morbidities related to work profile like musculoskeletal disorders 55 ± 9.8% & 10 ± 5.3%, allergic/ inflammatory manifestations including skin disorders (viz. dermatitis) 14 ± 5.1% & 4 ± 2.7%, eye complaints (viz. soreness, redness, watering, itching etc.) 32 ± 9.4% & 29 ± 3.6%, respiratory symptoms (viz. cough, phlegm, chest tightness, breathlessness) 21 ± 6% & 4 ± 2.5% respectively. Conclusions: Morbidities & health risks related to allergic, inflammatory or infective etiology due to physical, chemical or biological hazards were more significant in the first group but those related to psychosocial hazards viz. occupational stress & lifestyle disorders were predominant in the senior executive group. Thus, control measures aimed at reducing the impact of risk factors & morbidities are to be precisely defined keeping in mind the distinct differences between the 2 groups & their responsible factors.