Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Qualitative Study to Explore the Occupational and Reproductive Health Challenges among Women Tobacco Farm Laborers in Mysore District, India

Priyanka Ravi
* ,
Kiranmayee Muralidhar
,
Maiya G. Block Ngaybe
,
Shivamma Nayaka
,
Poornima Jayakrishna
,
Ashley A. Lowe
,
Karl Krupp
ORCID logo ,
Amanda M. Wilson
ORCID logo ,
Frank A. von Hippel
,
Zhao Chen
,
Lynn B. Gerald
,
Purnima Madhivanan
ORCID logo
Version 1 : Received: 11 April 2024 / Approved: 11 April 2024 / Online: 11 April 2024 (10:02:10 CEST)

How to cite: Ravi, P.; Muralidhar, K.; Ngaybe, M.G.B.; Nayaka, S.; Jayakrishna, P.; Lowe, A.A.; Krupp, K.; Wilson, A.M.; von Hippel, F.A.; Chen, Z.; Gerald, L.B.; Madhivanan, P. Qualitative Study to Explore the Occupational and Reproductive Health Challenges among Women Tobacco Farm Laborers in Mysore District, India. Preprints 2024, 2024040800. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202404.0800.v1 Ravi, P.; Muralidhar, K.; Ngaybe, M.G.B.; Nayaka, S.; Jayakrishna, P.; Lowe, A.A.; Krupp, K.; Wilson, A.M.; von Hippel, F.A.; Chen, Z.; Gerald, L.B.; Madhivanan, P. Qualitative Study to Explore the Occupational and Reproductive Health Challenges among Women Tobacco Farm Laborers in Mysore District, India. Preprints 2024, 2024040800. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202404.0800.v1

Abstract

Indian tobacco farm laborers are primarily women and children working for very low wages. The aim of this study was to explore occupational and reproductive health challenges faced by women tobacco farm labors in Mysore District, India. We conducted interview and six focus group discussions among 41 women tobacco farm laborers. Codes and themes were generated based on deductive and inductive approaches using the socio-ecological model. Participants reported symptoms of green tobacco sickness including headaches, back pain, gastric problems, weakness, and allergies during menstruation, pre-natal, and post-natal periods. Participants had poor awareness about the health effects of tobacco farming and there were gender inequalities in wages and use of personal protective equipment. Participants received support from family and commu-nity health workers during their pregnancy and post-natal period. Women reported wanting ma-ternity benefits from the tobacco board, monetary support, and nutritional supplements. There is a need for health education about the environmental dangers of tobacco among farm laborers, and more supportive policies for women farmworkers during pregnancy and post-natal periods.

Keywords

Focus group discussion; Occupational health; Reproductive health; Tobacco farmers; Tobacco farming

Subject

Public Health and Healthcare, Public, Environmental and Occupational Health

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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