Nutritional and socio-economic status of female garment factory workers of urban Dhaka

Abstract

The present study was carried out to determine the socio-economic as well as
nutritional status o f the female garment factory workers of Dhaka city. A total o f 402
female workers from 7 selected garment factories were included in this study. The age
o f the respondents were between 14-30 years. Half of the respondents (56 %) were
adolescent. Among them near about 37% were found Illiterate and 45% were
educated up to alimentary class. Though mean income was found 1150 taka per
month, 43% draw less than 1000 taka. As a consequence most of the workers (62%)
lived in slum. According to the Body Mass Index (BMl) 24% respondents were
malnourished. In this study mean height and body weight were found a little bit
higher than the previously known data. Prevalence o f anemia was also found higher
among the workers. About 51% subje<,ts had blood hemoglobin level below 12 g/dl.
On the other hand highly paid group was found to have relatively better health
condition and living a comfortable life. Finally It can be concluded that the causes of
malnutrition and anemia among the female garment factory workers are both due to
poverty and lack o f knowledge.