Morbidity pattern and Nutrition among the workers engaged in Textile industry of Pali and Jodhpur districts of Rajasthan

Project preludial activities included the field visits to thirty three textile industries selected randomly from Jodhpur district and Pali district. A total of 1240 workers have been examined out of which 845 were textile workers. Data on 395 comparative group workers of same age groups and smoking habits who were not being involved in the textile work have also been collected from eight colonies of Pali and Jodhpur district which were around the textile industries. From each worker, information on Socio-demographic/ economic aspects, duration of exposure and smoking habits were recorded in pre-structured schedules by means of Interview Technique. Workers who worked in the textile industry at least for one year and more were considered for the present study. Each worker was examined for present and past illnesses, anthropometry, dietary intake (24 hours recall method) and clinical examination of nutritional deficiency signs. Routine urine investigations for RBC, albumin, sugar, and ketone (multiple strip method) and haemoglobin estimation by Cynmethaemoglobin technique (Filter paper method) was done.