Assessment Of Work Stress And Health Status Of Empolyed Women Working In Rural Area Of Southern State In India

Abstract

Background: With rapid modernization and improvement of education in society, Indian women have been now increasingly involved in various occupations. Coping with workplace pressure and household chores is challenging to working women.

Aims: The objective of this study is to understand the various occupation stress factors and health status of working women in rural areas.

Settings and Design: A descriptive study was conducted among 108 working women in Vaniyamkulam Panchayat, Kerala employed in various jobs using a pretested semi structured questionnaire. Data regarding occupational stress and health status was obtained using a structured questionnaire by interview method and analyzed using SPSS software version19.

Results: Majority (63%) of participants were aged between 30-50 years. Most were married (83.3%) and 74.2% had at least on child.13.9% Husband was unemployed. Majority were professional and semi professional and worked in organized sector. Anxiety about children’s future (11.1%),none to care children in the absence(7.4%), financial pressure(8.3%), absence of domestic help(7.4%), unable to give self care(5.6%), Inadequate salary (4.6%) and job insecurity (4.6%) were found be very stressful in working women. 6.5% of women had hypertension and 5.5% were diabetic.11.1% were underweight.

Conclusions:

Anxiety and care related to children was associated with high stress among working women followed by domestic help and financial pressure. variable degree of stress is perceived in other factors. Combined efforts by employer and family support is required to provide productive healthy stress-free work environment to women.