Effects of Occupational Hazards on Mental and Reproductive Health of Women in Nepal
Journal Title: Interventions in Gynaecology and Women’s Healthcare - Year 2018, Vol 2, Issue 5
Abstract
Women constitute 51.5 percent of Nepal’s population. Their socioeconomic condition is very backward. Because of forced or early marriage, women are compelled to work as breadwinner of family or worker of household. Some women have obligation to work during pregnancy or immediately after delivery. Since many male cohorts have gone abroad, society resorts to women for labor. Occupational hazards of women are different based on geography, rural-urban environment, ethnicity (or caste) and even religion. Commonest of them are lack of safety devices, sexual harassment, domestic/workplace violence, injuries and occupational diseases. Their effects on psychology are lowered dignity (including self-esteem), trauma, melancholy, depression, early aging and other neurotic disorders. Their effects on reproductive health are sexual deprivation, uterine prolapse, molestation at workplace, marital rape, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), extramarital affairs and polygamy. Women span 51 percent of population in the world. This percent is 51.5 for Nepal Central Bureau of Statistics [1]. Female working age population is 61.6% whereas such male population is 55.3% UNFPA Nepal [2]. Many men have emigrated abroad to earn their bread. Female are little different from male in biology and physique. Their socioeconomic standard is inferior than male’s historically. For example, it is gender norm to drop female child of 12 or 13 out of school Hunt & Samman [3] in many districts. Many families still depend on agriculture. Millions of men have gone for foreign employment to earn money. So, women alone take care of properties and family members. They work in fields, rear cattle and make food. They take care of children and old in-laws. Farmer women work without safety equipment. They contract wounds, allergies, abrasions, fall, and sometimes gender-based violence. For the occupations that are more risk-prone, occupational hazards are more. For example, traffic policewomen, farmers and construction laborers are vulnerable to stress and injuries O’Driscoll & Brough [4]. Even in white collared jobs, women face various hazards like harassment, socio-cultural biases, and slighting like by being given inferior tasks Christie & Giri [5]. Farmer women spray pesticides without gloves and masks. Construction workers carry materials without helmet or go to heights without safety belts. Female civil servants may be molested by bosses. Rising women doctors may be slandered.
Authors and Affiliations
Pralhad Adhikari
Keywords
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- EP ID EP581450
- DOI 10.32474/IGWHC.2018.02.000147
- Views 82
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