Impact of socio-economic conditions on health status of female farm labourers

In Maharashtra an overwhelming number of women have been a part of the active work force due to their total involvement in agriculture. Present study was undertaken to know the health status of selected female farm labourers from urban slum and rural area of Parbhani District of Marathwada region of Maharashtra state. The study involved survey to find socio-economic background of selected 500 female farm labourers i.e.250 each from urban slums and rural. Equal number of 21-30 and 31-40 years i.e. 125 each in all groups were covered for study. The results indicated that majority of female farm labourers were from nuclear families in urban slums (76.8 per cent) and in rural (67.2 per cent). More per cent of rural families (79.2 per cent) were vegetarian whereas urban slums (69.2 per cent) were non-vegetarian. Maximum numbers of farm women were belonging to income group Rs. 6001-10,000/- per month. The per cent adequacy of food intake of selected female farm labourers as per different socio-economic categories was ranged between 174.88 per cent (sugars and jaggery) to 17.06 per cent (fruits).Whereas per cent adequacy of nutrient intake was ranged between 27.05 per cent (β-carotene intake, urban slum) to 140.52 per cent (fat intake, urban slum). The haemoglobin values were ranging from 9.83 ± 1.48 to 10.22 ± 1.32. Near about 75 to 80 percent surveyed respondents were suffered with one or other grade of anaemia.