A detailed study on morphological profile, hand grip strength, flexibility, and working postures in housemaids of Kolkata

• Main Authors: Piyali Mukherjee, Anindita Singha Roy, Amit Bandyopadhyay, Somnath Gangopadhyay
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2020-01-01
• Series: BLDE University Journal of Health Sciences
• Subjects: %fat; body mass index; central obesity; center of gravity; conicity index; unorganized sector
• Online Access: http://www.bldeujournalhs.in/article.asp?issn=2468-838X;year=2020;volume=5;issue=2;spage=200;epage=208;aulast=Mukherjee
• ISSN: 2468-838X; 2456-1975

BACKGROUND: House maids belonging to the unorganised sector jobs in the developing countries suffer from serious health consequences due to their awkward working posture. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The study was aimed to evaluate the morphological profile, hand grip strength, flexibility and working posture in housemaids of Kolkata. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 94 female house maids of Kolkata were recruited in the study and standard procedures were adopted to evaluate the parameters. RESULTS: Morphological and cardiovascular parameters were within the normal range but hand grip strength was lower than normal reference range. Significant differences in physical parameters, conicity index (CI), waist and hip circumferences, lean body mass (LBM), hand grip strength (HGS) was found in different age groups of house maids. Depending on significant correlation (r=0.89, P<0.001) between percentage of fat and BMI, a linear regression equation has been computed. CI score depicted the tendency of developing central obesity from 30 years onwards while it was evident in 51–60 years' age–group. These indicated their proneness to cardiovascular diseases. Evaluation of centre of gravity (COG) and assessment of working posture depicted erroneous working posture during utensils cleaning, sweeping and mopping. Such changes in COG during different activities revealed unstable and awkward working postures which require immediate attention and correction among the house maids. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that although the morphological parameters were within the normal range in housemaids of Kolkata but their working postures were erroneous and awkward with poor HGS and they are prone to develop cardiovascular diseases.