Occupational health burden of handloom workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Handloom is a traditional textile production sector, and the handloom workers work in risky conditions that may adversely affect their health and wellbeing. Although occupational health risks are highly significant issues, limited comprehensive studies exist on the overall prevalence of diseases among handloom workers. A systematic review, along with a bibliometric and meta-analysis of existing literature on health risks associated with hazardous work environments in the handloom industry, is presented in this paper.

Data were extracted from Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases. After full-text screening, 47 eligible articles were shortlisted for this paper. Bibliometric analysis was done by using the biblioshiny package in RStudio. For the meta-analysis, a random-effects model was used with 95 percent confident interval.

The annual growth rate of publications in this field was found to be 1.55 percent between 1980 and 2024, indicating a gradual increase in research interest. Thematic trends in literature reveal a shift from economic history and industrial transformation to public health issues such as musculoskeletal disorders and cross-sectional health studies. The meta-analysis shows a higher relative risk of 1.24 (P = 0.16) for musculoskeletal disorders among handloom workers compared to control groups which was not significant. Moreover, the overall disease prevalence among handloom workers shows a relative risk of 1.03 (P = 0.78) than the control group. This statement shows that no significant difference in the overall prevalence of diseases among handloom workers compared to the control groups. The other occupational related health issues identified among handloom workers include eye strains, respiratory illnesses, digestive disorders, and visual impairments.

These findings underscore the need for targeted occupational health policies and interventions to mitigate health risks among handloom workers.