Occupational Health Hazards of Solid Waste in Sanitary Workers of Bhaktapur Municipality

Abstract

The study was conducted among sanitary workers of Bhaktapur Municipality, Nepal from December 2009 to September 2010. The study design was descriptive cross sectional and was designed in three categories; questionnaires filling, health check up and stool examination. The sample size for these three studies was 60. The collected data was analyzed in SPSS 11.5 version. The most common health complication/problem was musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) found in 41(73.2%). The 2nd and 3rd were gastrointestinal disorder (GIS) found in 24(42.9%) and respiratory problem found in 20(35.7%) respectively. The least common health complication/problem was cancer found in only 1(1.8%). MSD was most prevalence in compositors, waste pickers and sweepers. Out of 7 compositors, all of them (100%) were suffering from MSD. Out of 12 waste pickers, 10(83.3%) of them were suffering and out of 18 sweepers, 15(83.3%) of them were suffering. The least suffering group from MSD were drivers. Gastrointestinal disorder was most prevalence in waste pickers (75%) and waste loaders (61%). Respiratory problem was mostly reported in sweepers (50%) and waste pickers (41.7%). Higher number of waste pickers (58.3%) and compositors (42.9) were suffering from chest pain. It was found that there is significant difference in infections/health problems due to professions. (Oneway ANOVA, P=0.05, d.f.=4,20, F=3.74). The findings show that there is no significant risk of infections/health problems to safety practitioners (P=0.05, d.f.=6, Chi square =11.81) and significant difference of infections/health problems with job duration (P=0.05, d.f.=4, Chi square=9.488). They have no practice of regular health check up and only 17% were vaccinated against the Hepatitis B. Out of 60 stool samples 28(46.66%) was positive of intestinal parasites. The most common intestinal parasite was Ascaris lumbricoides 18(30.0%). Other parasites detected include Trichuris trichiura 5(8.88%), Ancylostoma duodenale 4(6.66%), Entamoeba histolytica 3(5.0%), Giardia lamblia 3(5.0%) and Strongyloides stercoralis 2(3.33%). 100% of respondents who have no practice of hand washing were infected with intestinal parasites and 79% of respondents who do not use soap were infected with intestinal parasites. Waste pickers (69.2%) and waste loader (50.0%) were found to be most infected group with intestinal parasites among sanitary workers.