Outcomes from A Lay Health-Monitoring Research on Sanitation Employee's Health in a Karnataka Town

Abstract

In India, official figures for mortality and morbidity among sanitation workers (including manual scavengers) are unavailable. In the context of their job dangers, little is known about their health difficulties and health-seeking behavior (work practices and exposures). Using a lay epidemiological method, we aimed to investigate the nature of sanitation employees' health concerns. This study was conducted to discover occupational health concerns and gaps in healthcare access. The occupational health status, healthcare-seeking habits, and social support systems were all mapped using descriptive analysis. The most often reported diseases were injuries and chest pain. Most people remained to work despite their illnesses because they did not want to lose their jobs or lose their salaries. It was usual for people to self-medicate. Alcohol use was common to deal with the inhumane chore of cleaning unclean sewage and to forget about their health issues. Long-term diseases were also documented as a pattern of illnesses detected during monthly surveillance. Workplace health and safety systems did not exist, and regulatory authorities did not require them. Sanitation employees' health and safety have received little attention in public health studies. Unlike other hazardous jobs, sanitation work lacks particular protective regulatory rules to address health dangers.