Malnutrition and Anemia: A Health Burden among Tea Garden Workers in West Tripura District, Tripura, India

Abstract

Introduction: The tea garden workers are an underestimated group of our society and are considered to be the most nutritionally vulnerable community. This study was undertaken to study the nutritional status of the male and female tea garden workers of West Tripura district, Tripura, India. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 409 tea garden workers including both sexes (males: 197; females: 212) of age group 18–60 years were selected. A questionnaire for on-ground data collection was administered along with the assessment of dietary intake and dietary quality, anthropometric data measurements, physiological measurements, hematological and biochemical estimation. Results: Most of the workers were vegetarian, and about two-thirds of the participants consumed two meals per day. None of the subjects was in the habit of taking packed lunch in routine, and maximum respondents (males: 84.26%; female: 83.96%) were in the habit of keeping fast. Skipping meals was also common in a vast number of the participants (males: 83.24%; females: 84.90%). A maximum number of participants complained of anorexia, headache, breathlessness on exertion, lethargic feeling, pale conjunctiva, pale skin, and flat nails. A very high prevalence of anemia (males: 94.91%; females: 99.04%) was observed among the workers. The present study also revealed dietary inadequacies, particularly regarding protein, energy, calcium, and all micronutrients (iron, β-carotene, folic acid) except vitamin C. A positive significant (P < 0.05) correlation was observed between hemoglobin and various daily dietary intakes of blood-forming nutrients. Conclusion: The present study reveals the prevalence of anemia among tea garden workers, especially female workers. Nutritional insufficiency might be one of the important factors in this process. This study suggests that a comprehensive public health policy should be developed so that the tea garden workers’ health and nutritional needs can be addressed.