Original Contribution
Health Problems among the Agricultural Workers in a Selected Area of
Manikganj District
1. *Dr. Afsana Mahjabin, Associate Professor, Community Medicine, Monno Medical College, Manikganj.
afsana.aqsa@gmail.com
2. Professor Dr. Khondoker Mohammad Ali, Professor, Community Medicine, Monno Medical College, Manikganj
3. Professor Dr. Md. Jahangir Alam, Professor, Community Medicine, Monno Medical College, Manikganj
4. Dr. Mohammad Tariqul Islam, Associate Professor, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujib Medical University, Shahbag, Dhaka
5. Dr. Tamanna Tasneem, Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Peoples Republic of
Bangladesh
6. Dr. M. A. Muhaimin Al Zihan, Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, Peoples Republic of
Bangladesh
*For correspondence
Abstract
Background: Health problems are well recognized problems among the agricultural workers all
over the world specially in developing countries. For an agricultural country like Bangladesh
injuries during cultivation of land are the significant causes of slump. This paper represents the
main causes of agricultural injuries among the Bangladeshi farmers.
Objectives: The study was conducted with an aim to assessing the health problems of the
agricultural workers in a rural area of Manikganj.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in different villages of Manikganj during the
period of October, 2022 to March, 2023 by the Department of Community Medicine, Monno
Medical College, Manikganj.
Results: The study revealed that out of 316 respondent’s majorityi.e. 95 (30.66 %) belonged to the
age group (51-60) years. Most of the respondents i. e. 251(52.3%) were male, 89 (28.2%) illiterate
followed by 86 (27.2%) studied up to primary grade. Majority i.e. 144 (45.6%) had monthly family
income (5000-10,000) tk. Regarding duration of agricultural work 210 (66.4%) had been working
for (2-20) years. About 246 (77.4%) had knowledge of occurring physical injury followed by 90
(28.3%)respondents knew about insect bite.Regarding source of injury 150 (47.2%) were injured
by sickle and 111(31.8%) were injured by spade. Regarding common site of injury, majority i. e.
215(67.6%) said that injuries occur in lower limbs and 206 (64.8%) said in upper limb. About 187
(58.8%) respondents injured due to overload of work followed by 126(39.6%) which was due to
lack of knowledge. Regarding preventive measures of health problems 114 (35.9%) farmers used
mathal followed by 120(37.7%) used gamcha. This study revealed that physical injury occurred in
224 (31.9%) farmers followed by heat injury and skin disease in 91(12.9%) & 79(11.3%) farmers
respectively.
Conclusion: Majority of the farmer‘s suffer from different type of injury/accident without taking
necessary preventive measure.
[Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Med Col J 2023, Jul; 8 (2):98-106]
Keywords: Health problems, agricultural workers, Manikganj, Bangladesh
Full Article