NON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES RISK FACTORS AMONG LEATHER FACTORY WORKERS - A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

DESIGN: The study was done as a cross sectional study among factory workers situated near National Highways, in South Chennai during June and July 2012 using questionnaire and interview method after getting informed consent. The questionnaire included socio demographic profile, lifestyle behavior, smoking and alcohol history, family history of diabetes etc. The data was analyzed using Epi-info software and the test of significance was assessed by Chi-square test. SETTING: The study was done in the factory premises itself as a regular health check up camp. After getting the permission from the concerned authorities the questionnaire was administered to the study participants. PARTICIPANTS: The study participants were employees of the factory aged 18 years and above and both sexes. OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of risk factors among the factory employees and the secondary outcome measure is association between the risk factor and the obesity. RESULTS: Totally 118 workers were included in the study of which, Tobacco usage was present among 32 (27.1%), alcoholic history in 37 (31.4%), lack of regular physical activity among 80 (67.8%), overweight and obese was present among 41 (34.7%) and abdominal fat accumulation was seen in 20 (16.9%) of the study population. Overweight and Obesity was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with increasing age and socioeconomic status in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed high rates of risk factors like alcohol consumption, tobacco usage and prevalence of obesity which stresses the importance of major lifestyle changes.