Work environment impact on occupational participation of garments worker with physical disability

Abstract

Background: The garments sectors are the prime mover of the country. About 0.3% garment factories hire disabled people which is very low amount of our total population of person with disabilities. Due to unplanned rapid expansion of this sector different work related health problems are causing significantly such asmusculoskeletal disorder, low QOL, Low, Occupational health hazard, hazardous working environment etc. Beside this, the working environment of the garments factories are not up to the mark which can be say by seeing the recent accidents and collapse of garments factories. Garments worker with disability faces difficulties in their working environment. They also may faces difficulties in their daily life as both working environment and daily life activities are part of occupational performance area. The purpose of the study is to identify the impact of work environment on occupational participation of garments worker with physical disability. Objective: The objectives are to find out working environment impact on occupational participation of garments worker with physical disability. To identify strength and weakness of occupational participation of garments worker with disability and to explore the experience of garments worker with disability about their work environment Methodology: The descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the five garments of Bangladesh using Occupational Circumstance Assessment Interview and Rating Scale version 4.0 & Work Environment Impact version 2.0 garments worker with physical disability were selected purposively from the community. Nonparametric test was used to determine the association among working environment factors and major areas of participation. Result: 60 participants were enrolled to conduct the study. The mean± SD age is 27.55± 6.146, male are 21.7% and Female are 78.3%, 11.7% can sign their name, 20.2% were completed their primary level education, 40.0% were at secondary level, 16.7% were at higher secondary level, 6.7% were in B.Sc level and 5.0% were in M.Sc level of education, married were 33.3% and unmarried were 40.0%, 40.0% lived in urban area, 55.0% lived in semi- urban area and 5.0% were lived in rural area, Abstract 13 88.3% were physically disabled and 11.7% were physically disabled along with other disability, Most of the participants were diagnosed as poliomyelitis 48.3%, . Most of the participants works as helper 53.3%, Most of the participants working experience were 1-10years were 83.3%. There is strong association between age and habits (P<0.059), Education and (values & readiness for changes) (P<0.029, P<0.047), Disease condition and (values & interests) (P<0.041& P<0.043), Occupation and (short-term goal, long-term goal & readiness for changes) (P<0.023, P<0.023 & P<0.003). Annual income and (habits & values (P<0.005 & P<0.014). There are strong association between Task demand and (habits P<0.001, skills P<0.024, shortterm goals P<0.015 and physical environment, P<0.046), Appeal of Work Tasks has strong association between (roles P<0.009, habits P<0.000, personal causation P<0.044), Work schedule and (roles P<0.028, habits P<0.001 and social environment P<0.023), Work group membership and (habits P<0.004, personal causations P<0.006, values P<0.028, interests P<0.029, short- term goals P<0.051 and long- term goals P<0.034), Supervisor interaction and personal causation P<0.014. Work role standards has strong association between (roles P<0.000, habits P<0.000, values P<0.001, skills P<0.036), Work role style and (roles P<0.002, habits P<0.018, personal causation P<0.022, values P<0.005, interests P<0.035 and skills P<0.000), Interaction with others and (roles P<0.056, habits P<0.000, personal causation P<0.024, values P<0.003, interest P<0.040, social environment P<0.022 and readiness for changes P<0.021 while n= 60), Rewards and (roles P<0.007, habits P<0.057, personal causation P<0.019 and values P<0.043), Sensory qualities and (roles P<0.001 and long- term goal P<0.003), Architecture/ arrangement and (roles P<0.010, short- term goals P<0.036 and long- term goals, P<0.002), Ambience/ mood and (personal causation P<0.031 and values P<0.004), Properties of objects and (roles P<0.000, short- term goals P<0.002 and long- term goal P<0.000), Physical amenities has strong association between (roles P<0.023 and skills P<0.053) & Meaning of object/ products and (roles P<0.001, habits P<0.003, personal causation P<0.010, skills P<0.017, short- term goal P<0.021, long- term goal P<0.002 and physical environment P<0.053 and readiness for changes P<0.053. Conclusion: There are association between the factors of work environment and twelve major areas of Occupational Circumstance Assessment Interview and Rating 14 Scale Scale which indicate the impact of work environment on occupational participation. Key word: work environment, occupational participation, garments worker with disability