Occupational Health Hazards and Quality of Life of Migratory Women Workers in Sugarcane Harvesting

Abstract

A study on occupational health hazards and quality of life (QoL) of migratory women sugarcane workers was conducted in Bagalkote and Belagavi taluks of Karnataka with 220 women aged 20–50 years, selected through purposive and random sampling. Data were collected using a general information schedule, WHOQOL-BREF scale, Occupational Health Hazard Scale, and SES scale. Findings showed that 78.20% of women had moderate QoL. Regarding SES, 60.50% were from the upper-middle class and 39.50% from the lower-middle class. Occupational hazards placed 73.20% of women at high risk, while 26.80% faced medium risk. Mean score comparisons indicated poorer QoL among women aged 40–50 years, illiterate, migrated for over five months, married and pregnant after 20 years, with more than six children, joint families, lower-class SES, over 10 family members, and those experiencing more hazards. Significant associations were found between QoL and duration of migration, age at menarche, age at marriage, family size, occupational hazards, and SES. Age, education, migration duration, marriage and pregnancy age, family size, hazards, and SES significantly affected QoL. The study highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions and support programs from government and sugarcane factory owners to improve the living conditions and QoL of these women workers.