Relationship between Quality of Life, Reproductive Health and Nutritional Status of Migratory Women Workers in Sugarcane Harvesting

Abstract

Seasonal migration for sugarcane harvesting exposes women workers to multiple socio-economic, occupational and health vulnerabilities. The present study aimed to assess the quality of life, reproductive health and nutritional status of migratory women engaged in sugarcane harvesting in Belagavi and Bagalkot districts of Karnataka. A purposive sampling method was employed and a total of 220 migratory women workers were selected based on availability and feasibility of data collection. A self-structured schedule was used to obtain baseline demographic and personal information. Standardized tools included the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale, Reproductive Health Practice Scale by Hassan (2002) and Nutritional Status assessment based on WHO guidelines. The findings revealed that the majority of respondents were aged between 20–40 years, with low educational attainment and early age at marriage and pregnancy. Most women reported moderate quality of life (78.20%), while 21.40 per cent had poor quality of life. More than half (60.50%) exhibited poor reproductive health and none demonstrated high reproductive health status. With regard to nutritional status, 46.80 per cent were underweight, 50.00 per cent had normal weight and only 3.20 per cent were overweight. Correlation analysis indicated that duration of migration, occupational health hazards, early marriage and early pregnancy negatively influenced quality of life, reproductive health and nutritional status. In contrast, education, socio-economic status and adequate child spacing showed positive associations. A significant positive interrelationship was observed between quality of life, reproductive health and nutritional status.The study highlights the multidimensional health risks faced by migratory women sugarcane workers and underscores the need for integrated interventions focusing on occupational safety, reproductive healthcare access and nutritional support to enhance their overall well-being.