Saudi Journal of Medicine (SJM)
Volume-6 | Issue-11 | 352-358
Original Research Article
“Workplace Mental Health Disorders in Garments Workers”
Nirob Nahian, Mahfuza Rahat, Najnin Yesmin
Published : Nov. 8, 2021
Abstract
Workplace Mental Health Disorders can affect health if there is an inappropriate interaction between the type and content of the work, the organizational environment and the worker's capabilities. The objective was to determine the relationship between labor psychosocial factors and psychic disorders in workers of a Garments Factory. According to the National Mental Health Survey conducted by WHO in 2013–2015 about 16.05 percent of the adult population in the country are suffering from mental disorders. ICDDR, B's review in 2019 bumped that number to a prevalence range between 16–31 percent. Regrettably, the inference that can be drawn is that up to 50.5 million Bangladeshis are either unemployed, or are actively hiding their mental illness related issues at work. Labor psychosocial factors can affect health if there is an inappropriate interaction between the type and content of the work, the organizational environment and the worker's capabilities. The objective was to determine the relationship between labor psychosocial factors and psychic disorders in workers of a garments factory. This is an observational, cross-sectional and analytical study in Asrotex Limited and Taqwa Fabrics Limited, Gazipur, Bangladesh from August to September -2021. The data were collected with the both Garments Factories at Work instrument and the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire. 110 workers participated, 54% were women and 46% men. 40% perceived the presence of negative psychosocial factors at medium level, the most frequent being the labor requirements and the role of the worker. In relation to mental health, 15% were considered as a “case”, the most frequent disorders were: sleep disturbances, anxiety and depression and behavior disorders. Psychosocial factors were related to anxiety and depression (p<0.05). The relationship between occupational psychosocial factors and psychic disorders was confirmed.