A study on morbidity pattern of child labourers engaged in different occupations in a slum area of Calcutta

A cross-sectional study of 150 child labourers engaged in different occupations in a slum area of Calcutta was conducted to assess their health and nutritional status. Most (88%) of them had some type of morbidity. Female child workers (95.5%) suffered more than the males (84.7%). Most prevalent morbidities among the child labourers were seen as pallor (49.3%) followed by pediculosis (48%), dental caries (28.6%), malnutrition (22.6%), worm infestation (20.6%) and scabies (16.6%). Garage workers were observed to suffer less from any type of morbidity except pallor which may be attributed to lead exposure. Rag-pickers had significantly (p < 0.05) more risk of developing worm infestation, scabies and pediculosis whereas domestic helpers had significantly (p < 0.05) more risk of developing pediculosis. Occupational hazards were also studied but excepting pallor in garage workers and scabies in rag-pickers, nothing could be documented.