Occupations and Morbidity Pattern in a North Indian Site: Need for Focused Health Services for House Wife, Pensioners and Unemployed

Background: Morbidity has factors related to occupational status, however information from community based study is seldom available in India. This article uses self reported morbidity in the community from one North Indian sites and effect of occupational status on morbidity. Methods: An ICMR Task force study of health accounting, collected different health related parameters at baseline. Under the study thousand households (500 rural, 500 urban) were surveyed during 2012-13by door to door survey using pretested questionnaire after availing written informed consent. This information reflects the distribution of demographic and occupation profile in relation to morbidities. Results: Overall self reported morbidity prevalence was nearly sixteen percent (821 out of 5279, 15.8%). 766 individuals provided details, among them 530 (12%) were considered as corroborative evidence to support disease diagnosis. Nearly 32% suffered from communicable and 67% suffered from non-communicable diseases. Among different occupations, pensioners had highest morbidities (24.5%) followed by unemployed (20.5%) and housewives (21.4%). Conclusion: Morbidity profile and effect of occupation/ work status is evident from the study. There is need of targeted services for these groups and periodic feedback or impact assessment from consumers themselves will be more authentic for appropriate policy formulation.