Non-communicable disease risk factors among garment factory workers in Bangladesh

Abstract

Aim: Many studies identified numerous health problems among industrial workers, in general, and garment workers. But a health problem with a specific focus on non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors for Bangladeshi garment workers is lacking. Objective: The aim of this article is to investigate the NCD risk factors among garment workers in Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: A total of 4736 randomly selected garment workers aged ≥15 years in the Gazipur district of Bangladesh were investigated in a cross-sectional study from April 2014 to November 2014. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, and clinical details, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension (HTN), and albuminuria were collected by using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Results: Among the study participants, the mean age was 27.6 ± 8.0 years. About 16.1% of the participants were underweight (body mass index <18.5 kg/m2), 15.8% were overweight (≥23.0–24.9 kg/m2), and 21.2% (≥25.0 kg/m2) were obese. The prevalence of central obesity based on waist circumference (male ≥90 cm and female ≥80 cm) and waist–hip ratio (male ≥0.90 and female ≥0.80) was 24.9% and 62.1%, respectively. The prevalences of T2DM (random blood glucose: ≥11.1 mmol/L), HTN (≥140/90 mmHg), and albuminuria (≥1+) were 7.0%, 13.9%, and 5.1%, respectively. The rates of general obesity and central obesity were significantly higher in females, and smoking habits, albuminuria, T2DM, and HTN were significantly higher in males. Increased age, male gender, general obesity, and central obesity were significantly associated with T2DM and HTN. Conclusion: The prevalences of T2DM, HTN, obesity, and albuminuria were common in study participants. Long-term follow-up studies of these workers are therefore warranted.