Community Based Cross-Sectional Study to Assess the Health Problems and Quality of Life Among Migrant Construction Workers in Chennai

Abstract

Background: Although migrants often have less access to medical care, migrants are more likely to experience physical and mental health problems. As a result, the following goals guided the conduct of this study: to characterize the health issues faced by migrant workers in Chennai's construction industry, to ascertain their quality of life, and to evaluate their tendency to seek medical attention. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Chennai's construction sites using community participants. The study included migrant laborers f rom across the state who work on construction sites for more than a year, both men and women over the age of 18. The research was carried out in 2023 between March and April. Convenient sampling was done, and 400 people were considered the sample size. Data were gathered using a pretested, structured Validated Questionnaire. Results: The study showed that 13% had respiratory disease, 5.1% had acute febrile illness and 5.1 % had gastrointestinal disease. About 13% of the respondents went to nearby medical shop when they have any medical problems. About 62.0% of the participants had poor quality of life. Education (P=0.042), duration of working hours (P=0.034) and tobacco use (0.032) were found to be significantly associated with quality of life.