Akhter Sadika, Rutherford Shannon, Chu Cordia
School of Science and Environment, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Brisbane, Queensland, 4111, Australia.
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2019 Jan 21;19(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s12914-019-0188-4.
The ready-made garment industry in Bangladesh not only contributes to the nation's economic development, but has created income opportunities for women, benefiting their whole family. However, these benefits come at considerable cost to the women. This research examines how the work environment and gendered family role in this conservative society affect the health of the female industrial workers.
A qualitative study employed in-depth interviews (n-20) and focus group discussions with female garment workers (n-4) in two cities of Dhaka district. Further, key informant interviews (n = 4) with factory doctors, along with eight workplace observations were conducted to explore the lived experience of female workers' health issues. Interview transcripts were coded in Atlas-ti, 5.2. The data were analysed using thematic analysis approach. The themes are illustrated with case narratives.
The female workers reported that their work has led to back and joint pain, continuous headache, eye pain and difficulty in breathing associated with inhaling fabric dust. Inadequate lighting, constantly sitting in one position without back rest and continuous noise from hundreds of machines makes them feel permanently tired. Further, the female workers reported that working in the factory and meeting the expectations of the families at home has doubled their workload. The doctors indicated that the physical work environment, their low job status and the nature of the job affect the health of female workers.
This study found that female workers in the ready-made garment industry face a high risk of health problems. Both government and non-government organizations need to be better involved in designing interventions targeting these women, to protect them from such health risks. In addition, recognition by the whole society of the important role the women play in the economy is needed, so that support by both family and society can be improved.
孟加拉国的成衣业不仅为国家经济发展做出了贡献，还为女性创造了收入机会，惠及她们的整个家庭。然而，这些益处是以女性付出巨大代价为前提的。本研究探讨了在这个保守社会中，工作环境和性别化的家庭角色如何影响女性产业工人的健康。
采用定性研究方法，在达卡区的两个城市对20名女性服装工人进行了深入访谈，并与4名女性服装工人进行了焦点小组讨论。此外，还对工厂医生进行了4次关键 informant 访谈，并进行了8次工作场所观察，以探究女性工人健康问题的实际经历。访谈记录在Atlas-ti 5.2中进行编码。采用主题分析方法对数据进行分析。通过案例叙述来说明主题。
女工们报告说，她们的工作导致了背部和关节疼痛、持续头痛、眼睛疼痛以及因吸入织物灰尘而呼吸困难。照明不足、长时间保持一个姿势且没有靠背休息以及数百台机器持续发出的噪音让她们感到永远疲惫不堪。此外，女工们报告说，在工厂工作并满足家里人的期望使她们的工作量增加了一倍。医生指出，体力工作环境、她们较低的工作地位以及工作性质影响了女工的健康。
本研究发现，成衣业的女工面临着较高的健康问题风险。政府和非政府组织都需要更好地参与设计针对这些女性的干预措施，以保护她们免受此类健康风险。此外，全社会需要认识到女性在经济中所起的重要作用，以便改善家庭和社会的支持。
