PERCEPTION OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND PERSONAL HYGIENE PRACTICES OF FEMALE GARMENTS WORKER IN CHATTOGRAM CITY, BANGLADESH

Abstract

Garments industry is the foremost economic sector of Bangladesh. Female workers are the crucial part in this sector to enhance economy. This effortful sector has progress here rapidly due to its ordinary technology, inexpensive labor and small scale area. The prime aim of this study was to perception of nutritional status and personal hygiene practices of female garments workers at Chattagram, Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was carried out among the selected 382 female garments worker from different factories situated in Chattagram.A pre-prepared questionnaire was used to find out the association among various factors such as age, marital status, level of education etc with nutritional status and personal hygiene. Body mass index (BMI) was used to explore the nutritional status of female garments workers. This study revealed that 46.34% were normal weight, 3.14% were underweight, 38.74% were preobese and 11.78 % were obese respectively. It also presented that age, marital status had statistically significant (p<0.001) with body mass index. Most of the respondent’sbody contains 56.54 % normal level of hemoglobin. It is also found that 75.39% were in normal range of blood pressure. There was significant association (p<0.028) of body mass index with blood pressure of participants. Furthermore, the hygiene practices were nearly 90%.The result showed that sources of drinking water were statistically significant (p<0.05) with level of education, mother’s occupation, marital status, monthly expenditure for family and water purification was significantly associated (p<0.05) with level of education, mother’s occupation, marital status.It also found that used sanitary napkin in menstruation was statistically significant(p< 0.05) with types of family.Finally, it can be concluded, collaboration between them is needed to improve coverage within limited resources. Essential policies already exist to that support them for the achievement of better education and women's rights, but their implementation needs to be strengthened.