General health problems of migratory women workers in sugarcane harvesting

Introduction

Migratory women workers engaged in sugarcane harvesting represent one of the most vulnerable and marginalized sections of the informal agricultural labour force in India. Seasonal migration, driven primarily by poverty, indebtedness, and lack of local employment opportunities, compels these women to work under harsh and unregulated conditions. Their work involves prolonged hours of physically demanding labour such as cutting, bundling, and loading sugarcane, often without adequate rest, nutrition, or protective equipment. These occupational conditions, combined with poor living environments characterized by temporary shelters, overcrowding, unsafe drinking water, and lack of sanitation facilities, significantly contribute to a wide range of health problems. The general health problems faced by these women are multifaceted, encompassing physical, reproductive, and nutritional dimensions. Musculoskeletal disorders, including back pain, joint pain, and body fatigue, are highly prevalent due to repetitive strenuous activities and improper working postures. Additionally, exposure to extreme weather conditions, such as intense heat and cold, increases the risk of dehydration, heat stress, and respiratory issues. Poor hygiene and inadequate sanitation further lead to skin infections, gastrointestinal diseases, and urinary tract infections. Nutritional deficiencies, particularly anemia and chronic energy deficiency, are also widespread among migratory women workers, largely due to irregular meals, low dietary diversity, and increased energy expenditure during labour. Moreover, limited access to healthcare services exacerbates these health issues. Migratory lifestyles restrict continuity of care, while financial constraints and lack of awareness often delay treatment-seeking behavior. Women frequently neglect their own health due to work pressures and family responsibilities, leading to the progression of untreated illnesses. The cumulative impact of these factors not only affects their physical well-being but also diminishes their overall quality of life and productivity.

Materials and Methods

The population for the study consisted of migratory women workers engaged in sugarcane harvesting in the Belagavi and Bagalkot districts of Karnataka State. These districts were purposively selected as they represent major sugarcane-producing regions that attract large numbers of seasonal migrant laborers from different parts of the state and neighboring regions. The target population included women who migrated temporarily with their families to work in sugarcane fields during the harvesting season. For the purpose of this study, purposive sampling method was employed to select the respondents. This method was chosen because it allowed the researcher to intentionally select participants who met specific criteria relevant to the www.extensionjournal.com study objectives.

Sample

The sample size was determined based on the availability of workers and feasibility of data collection. Finally, a total of 220 sugarcane harvesting migratory women were selected from different sugarcane harvesting sites in Belagavi and Bagalkot districts.

Tool used for study Self-structured schedule A self-structured schedule was used to collect baseline information from the respondents. It consisted of basic demographic data, including age, education, food habits, duration of migration, age at menarche, duration of menstrual flow, age at marriage, age at first pregnancy, spacing between children, incidence of stillbirth, breastfeeding practices, number of children, occupational hazards and morbidity pattern experienced during sugarcane harvesting period.

Statistical tools

Frequency and percentage were used for the analysis of data. (2015) [9] similarly reported that a majority of women agricultural labourers were married before the age of 18 years, reflecting the persistence of early marriage practices in rural and economically weaker communities. With respect to age at pregnancy, half of the women (50.00%) experienced their first pregnancy before the age of 18 years followed by 30.90 per cent between 18-20 years and 19.10 per cent after 20 years. Similarly Raj et al. (2009) [6] reported that women married at younger ages are more Personal health and hygiene of migratory women workers in sugarcane harvesting is represented in Table 2. Almost all (100.00%) the respondents reported bathing, combing, brushing teeth, washing clothes, washing hands before meals and after defecation regularly. However, 100.00 per cent of them reported not clipping their nails. Similarly, Mohan, (2023) [1] found that female migrant workers maintained essential hygiene behaviors, but poor access to water and sanitation limited practices like regular hair washing and nail care. For hair washing frequency, 73.20 per cent of them washed their hair once a month, while 26.80 per cent did once in 15 days, with none of them washing weekly. In relation to chewing habits, 45.00 per cent of the respondents used tobacco, 41.80 per cent chewed arecanut and 13.20 per cent ate betel leaves. Concerning eating outside food, more than half (65.00%) of them reported consuming outside food, whereas 35.00 per cent did not. Table 3 pointed out the distribution of migratory women workers in sugarcane harvesting by morbidity pattern for the previous one month. Results revealed that around 32.70 per cent of the women had suffered from fever, 62.30 per cent had experienced cold and 47.70 per cent had cough. Vomiting was reported by 18.20 per cent and constipation by 26.40 per cent of the respondents, while no cases of diarrhoea and malaria were noted. Fatigue was a major complaint experienced by 75.50 per cent of the women. [2] reported that sugarcane cutters experienced a high prevalence of musculoskeletal problems such as back pain, shoulder pain, and joint pain due to repetitive bending, heavy load carrying, and prolonged working hours. Similarly, Ramesh et al. (2016) [7] documented frequent injuries like cuts and abrasions to fingers and hands among sugarcane harvesters caused by the use of sharp tools and contact with sugarcane leaves. A study by Mishra and Satapathy (2016) [5] found that agricultural workers were highly exposed to dust, heat, and chemicals, leading to respiratory problems, headaches, skin irritation, and dehydration. Further, Kiran et al. (2018) [4] reported that female agricultural labourers commonly suffered from fatigue, heat stress, and excessive physical strain, along with reproductive issues such as heavy menstrual bleeding.

Results and Discussion

Conclusion

The present study concludes that migratory women workers engaged in sugarcane harvesting are a highly vulnerable group experiencing multiple socio-demographic, health, and occupational challenges. The findings revealed that the majority of the women belonged to the younger and middle age groups, had low levels of education, and were from economically weaker sections. Early age at marriage and first pregnancy, along with shorter birth spacing, were commonly observed, indicating poor reproductive health awareness and limited access to healthcare services. The duration of migration was relatively long, further exposing them to unstable living and working conditions.

The study also highlighted a high prevalence of morbidity and occupational health hazards among the respondents.

Common health problems such as fever, cold, cough, fatigue, and gastrointestinal issues were widely reported.

Occupational hazards including musculoskeletal disorders, injuries, exposure to dust, heat stress, and allergies were highly prevalent due to the strenuous nature of work and lack of protective measures. Although basic personal hygiene practices were followed, inadequate facilities and poor environmental conditions affected overall health.

References

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