Assessment of nutritional status among coal mine workers

Introduction

Food has always been an essential component of our lives. We learned a great deal over the ages about how to utilise food to promote children's and young people's development and to keep them healthy throughout their lives. Health, nutrition, and food are all closely linked parts of our lives. Food is what gives the body nourishment. Anything consumed that meets the body's demands for energy, building, regulation, and protection can also be referred to as food. To put it briefly, food is the raw ingredient that makes up our bodies. Good nutrition and health can be ensured by consuming the appropriate types and quantities of food, which may show up in our looks, productivity, and mental well-being (Mudambi and Rajagopal, 2006) [1] . As pert Donoghue (2004) [2] , mining continues to contribute significantly to the growth of the global industrial sector by generating jobs and essential resources. Even though there have been significant improvements in the management of occupational health concerns, such as better dust control and safety equipment, miners remain at risk for respiratory and musculoskeletal problems. To further minimise dangers and safeguard employees, more stringent legislation, ongoing innovation, and health monitoring are required.

Review of Literature

Nandi and associates (2009) [3] , mentioned, only 42% of miners are literate. Pulmonary restrictive impairment was significantly higher amongst smokers as compared to nonsmokers in both miners and controls. The prevalent conditions among miners were musculoskeletal morbidity (8%), diabetes (8.8%), and hypertension (22.6%). Rajgamar the calorie intake is observed lowest in the region (2413.9 kcal) it is 36.4 percent lesser than standard requirement. Protein intake is highest in Surakachar area 43.71 gm while in Rajgamar the intake was lowest in the region (20.11 gm). Average fat Intake in all coal area is 18.14 gram which is 8 percent less than standard per day per person. Fat Intake is highest (25 gram) in Koba (Dabhadker et al., 2013) [4] . Comparing to the general public, coal miners are more inclined to be diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, and chronic respiratory problems. The literature on morbidity patterns in coal mines is scarce. One of the unique groups that have greater labour intensity than the general workforce is coal miners. Compared to regular workers, these workers are under greater pressure to survive and perform well. The main causes of sickness and mortality among coal mine workers are heavy physical labour, harsh working conditions, mishaps at work, and exposure to coal dust (Neelakanti and Sriramula, 2019) [5] .

Research Methodology

The present study is based on survey research design, which was considered suitable for collecting detailed information regarding the nutritional status, and health condition of coal mine workers. The study was conducted in Dhanbad district, where two collieries, namely Moonidih Colliery and Modidih Colliery were selected randomly from the Dhanbad district. The random selection of collieries helped in reducing bias and ensured proper representation of the study area. The sample unit of the study consisted only of coal mine workers. A total sample size of 200 respondents was selected for the investigation, including 100 workers from Moonidih Colliery and 100 workers from Modidih Colliery. Primary data collection method was adopted for gathering information from the respondents. Data were collected through interview schedule and personal interaction with the workers. Nutritional and health assessment of respondents www.extensionjournal.com was conducted through dietary assessment using 24-hour dietary recall method.

Results and Discussion

Diet plays an important role in maintaining the health and work efficiency of coal mineworkers. Coal miners generally require high energy intake due to heavy physical labor strenuous working condition. In many cases, workers tend to consume carbohydrate rich foods such as rice and cereals more frequently than protein rich foods because of food habits, availability and economic conditions. This table shows that 27.5% of the respondents consume between 41-45.99 gm of protein daily, while 30% consume between 36-40.99 gm. About 22.5% of the respondents consume between 30-35.99 gm of protein, whereas 13.0% consume between 46-50.99 gm daily. The findings reveal that the majority of coal mine workers consume low amounts of protein in their daily diet. This table shows that 39.5% of the respondents consume between 16-17.99 gm of fats daily, while 8.5% consume between 11-13.99 gm. About 27.0% of the respondents consume between 18-19.99 gm of fats, whereas 15.5% consume between 14-15.99 gm daily. The findings reveal that the majority of coal mine workers consume low amounts of fats in their daily diet.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that the average intake of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and total calories among the coal miners were below the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). This reflects an overall inadequacy in dietary intake among the study population. Such insufficient nutrient consumption may adversely affect their nutritional status, physical strength, and work productivity, especially considering the physically demanding nature of coal mining. Prolonged inadequate intake of energy and essential macronutrients may also increase the risk of malnutrition and other health-related problems. Therefore, there is a need for appropriate nutritional interventions, dietary awareness, and regular nutrition monitoring to improve the overall health and well-being of coal miners.

References

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