Health problems among migrant construction workers: A unique public–private partnership project

BACKGROUND: Construction sector is a booming industry and involves many hazardous activities. Migrant labor in the industry is susceptible to various health and occupational hazards. In a unique public–private partnership project, a medical team from a public sector teaching hospital in Mumbai provided comprehensive on-site health care services to the construction workers of a private construction company. OBJECTIVE: To study socio-demographic profile and morbidity pattern of construction workers. SETTING AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional study at construction site Vidyavihar (West), Mumbai, was carried out over the period of May to November 2010. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A medical team provided comprehensive on-site health care services, and a Health Card was devised to maintain the record of socio-demographic, occupational details, and complete physical examination findings of the workers who participated in the study. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 15.0. RESULTS: Of the 1337 workers (all males) examined, 1289 (96.4%) belonged to 15–45 years age group. The mean age of the workers was 26.25 ± 8.49 years. A third of the migrants belonged to West Bengal. The average number of health problems in the workers was 1.41. Regular consumers of tobacco and alcohol were 50.48 and 14.65%, respectively. Nearly one-fifth of the workers had febrile illness, of which 20.71% had suspected malaria; 12.6% had respiratory infections, while 3.4% were found to have hypertension. There was a statistically significant association (P < 0.05) between type of occupation and morbidity status.