Chapter V

SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF RESPONDENTS

Demographic and Socio-economic changes influence the life style

and working culture of the people. Industrialization, urbanization and modernization have

changed the life style of Indian families. The transition from traditional to modern

lifestyle, consumption of rich fat content food and high calorie food has been contributing

much to the health problem. Coupled with high level of mental stress compounded the

problem further. The way we eat, perform exercise, take rest, play, behave with others,

think, plan, drive a vehicle, sleep, carry out our routine work and live others are included

in the term ‘lifestyle’. It is true that our routine work and day-to-day life depend on

various environmental factors such as social, economical, political, ecological and family

background. When the basic necessities are not easily fulfilled, it is but natural that the

man would try different strategies to achieve them. Our time schedule for working,

resting, eating, entertainment and interacting with people around us would change the

mode of our life pattern. A shift in eating habits, smoking, drinking and a host of other

such unhealthy practices would result in health problems. Thus the life style of people

determines their health status.

This chapter analyzes about the socio-demographic profile of the respondents in

the sample villages. The profile comprising of age, sex, educational qualification,

community, marital status, occupation, income and family size of the respondents will

help to know their socio-demographic status. The health status of respondents varies with

their age, sex, occupation, income and family size. It is therefore understood that there is

relationship between the health status of the respondents and their socio-demographic

95
composition. Hence an attempt has been made in the study to find out the level of

significance in the relationship between their health status and their socio-demographic

variables.

SAMPLE VILLAGES
Two coastal villages and two inland villages were selected for this study. The

following table shows the distribution of respondents according to their types of

settlement.

TABLE 5.1

RESPONDENTS BY TYPES OF VILLAGE

No. of
Types of village Sample villages Per cent
Respondents

Coastal 2 389 32.7

Inland 2 802 67.3

Total 4 1191 100

Close to one-third of the respondents (32.7 per cent) belong to the coastal villages

and over two-thirds of them (67.3 per cent) belong to inland villages. An attempt has

been made to compare the sample population of these two types of settlements with

respect to the dependent variables taken for analysis.

96
SEX
The participation of more females in the medical camps than their male

counterparts is the reason for the selection of more female respondents for this study. The

following table shows the sex-wise distribution of the respondents in the sample villages.

TABLE-5.2

RESPONDENTS BY SEX

Sex No. of Respondents Per cent

Male 476 40.0
Female 715 60.0
Total 1191 100

A sizeable proportion of the respondents (40) are males and a majority of them

(60 per cent) are females. Thus, in the sample population, the male respondents out

number their female counterparts, because the people who attended the medical camps

were mostly females. This variation mainly owes to the difference in the participation of

men and women in the medical camps. In other words, the participation of women in

medical camps is one and a half time higher than the participation of their men

counterparts. This shows that more women than men were interested in attending the

medical camps in order to consult the doctors and take treatment for their diseases.

97
AGE
Age is an important independent variable in the demographic profile of any

population. The distribution of respondents in different age groups is shown in the

following table.

TABLE 5.3

RESPONDENTS BY AGE

Age No. of Respondents Per cent

0-14 512 43.0
15-25 109 9.2
26-40 224 18.8
41-60 239 20.1
Above 60 107 9.0
Total 1191 100
Average age (Mean): 23.87 years

A significant proportion of the respondents (43) belong to the age group of 0-14.

One-fifth of them (20.1 per cent) are in 41-60 age groups, close to one-fifth of them (18.8

per cent) are in 26-40 age group. Close to one-tenth of them (9.2 per cent) in the age

group of 15-25, and a similar proportion (9 per cent) of them are above 60 years. It is

inferred from this that the sample population is characterized by adulthood. This is

confirmed by the average age (23.87 years) of the sample population.

98
 FIGURE 1

THE DIAGRAMATIC REPRESENTATION OF AGE OF THE RESPONDENTS

50

45

40

35

30

Per
25cent Age

20

15

10

0
0-14 15-25 26-40 41-60 Above 60
Age

99
EDUCATION

Rural people are educationally backward as compared to their urban counterparts.

This trend mainly owes to their economic backwardness and poor condition of schools in

rural areas in terms of lack of infrastructural facilities. Moreover, the rural parents have

no value for education. The following table presents the educational status of the

respondents.

TABLE 5.4

RESPONDENTS BY EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION

Educational No. of
Per cent
Qualification Respondents

Illiterate 283 23.8

Primary School 484 40.6

Middle School 262 22.0

High School 102 8.6

Higher Sec. School 38 3.2

Others* 22 1.8

Total 1191 100

* Other refers to Technical education, U.G. and P.G.

A significant proportion of the respondents (40.7) studied upto primary level.

Over one-fifth of them (22 per cent) studied upto middle school level; 8.6 per cent of

them studied upto SSLC and 3.2 per cent of them studied upto HSC, and a negligible

100
proportion of them (1.8) completed technical education, under graduate and post-graduate

degrees. This analysis of data shows that close to two-thirds of them (62.7 per cent) are

literates and rest of them (27.3 per cent) are educated. It is important to mention that

close to one-fourth of them (23.8 per cent) are illiterates.

COMMUNITY

The coastal villages consist of fisher folk who have been identified as Most

Backward Class by the Government of Tamilnadu. In a similar way, the inland villages

have more Backward Class people than those from other communities. The following

table represents the community-wise distribution of the respondents.

TABLE 5.5

RESPONDENTS BY COMMUNITY

No. of
Community Per cent
Respondents
Forward Class
2 0.2
(FC)
Backward Class
788 66.2
(BC)
Most Backward
387 32.5
Class (MBC)
Scheduled Caste
14 1.2
(SC)

Total 1191 100

Note: This community-wise classification was done by the

Tamilnadu government.

It is understood from the table that two-thirds of the respondents (66.2 per

cent) belong to BC. Close to one-third of them (32.5 per cent) belong to MBC. However,

101
a negligible proportion of them belong to SC and FC. This community-wise distribution

of the respondents discloses that the sample population is mostly represented by the

Backward and Most Backward Classes.

MARITAL STATUS

Marital status is one of the criteria to evaluate the health status of the respondents.
The following table shows the distribution of respondents according to their marital
status.
TABLE 5.6

RESPONDENTS BY MARITAL STATUS

Marital Status No. of Respondents Per cent

Unmarried 109 15.8

Married 493 71.6

Widowed 83 12.1

Separated 3 0.4

Total* 688 100

*Of the total sample population, 503 of them are excluded

from the table as they are children (0-14).

It is clear from the table that a great majority of the respondents (71.6 per cent)

are married, 15.8 per cent of them are unmarried, 12.1 per cent of them are in widowhood

and a few of them are separated. Thus the sample population is represented by married

respondents.

102
OCCUPATION
There is no job opportunity in the sample inland settlements other than petty

business, casual work (coolie) in agriculture and allied activities. Moreover, agriculture is

not at present a progressive occupation due to lack of irrigation in those settlements. The

beedi rolling is an important secondary occupation for over one-fourth (26.0 per cent) of

the total employed people in the settlements. The following table shows the distribution

of the respondents in terms of their occupations.

TABLE 5.7

RESPONDENTS BY THEIR OCCUPATION

Primary occupation
No. of Respondents Per cent

Unemployed 52 12.4

Agricultural work 29 6.9

Beediwork 109 26.0

Petty Business 11 2.6

Private Job 37 8.8

Govt. Job 5 1.2

Fishing 21 5.1

Coolie 155 37.0

Total* 419 100

*The table does not include children (459), housewives (187),

unemployed females (43) and elders above 60 years (83).

103
 It is evident from the table that a significant proportion of the respondents (37.0)

are coolies, i.e. the coolies are those who are unskilled labourers usually hired for low or

subsistence wages. Over one-fourth of the respondents (26 per cent) are beedi rollers, 8.8

per cent of them are employed in private sector, 6.9 per cent of them are agricultural

workers, 5.1 per cent are fishermen and 2.6 per cent of them are petty businessmen. The

remaining (12.4 per cent) respondents are unemployed. It is evident from the table that

more respondents (coolies: 37.0 per cent and beedi workers: 26 per cent) are employed in

unorganized sectors than their counterparts engaged in other occupations. Due to

irregular monsoon and poor irrigation facilities in the sample villages agriculture remains

to be an unprofitable work. Men from this region prefer any type of work based on daily

wage, especially construction, brick work and the like. Particularly women prefer beedi

work because it is like a domestic work and fetching moderate income through out the

year. Since Tirunelveli District in which the sample villages are located, is industrially

backward region, the people have to resort to whatever jobs available from time to time.

INCOME
Income of the population is mostly depends on their occupation. As most of those

from the population are casual workers or daily wage earners, their income is rather low.

They get work for 2-3 days a week. Most of the households have one or two bread-

winners or potential earners. The following table exhibits the distribution of the

respondents in terms of their monthly income.

104
 TABLE 5.8

RESPONDENTS BY MONTHLY INCOME

Individual Income No. of Respondents Per cent

(Rs.)

Below 1000 109 29.7

1001-2000 205 55.9

2001-3000 11 3.0

3001-4000 30 8.2

Above 4000 12 3.2

Total 367 100

Average individual monthly income: Rs.1360.64

A majority of the respondents (55.9 per cent) earn a monthly income of

Rs. 1001-2000 and very close to one-third of them (29.7 per cent) earn below

Rs.1000. The rest of them (14.4 per cent) earn above Rs.2000. This shows that an

overwhelming majority of the respondents (85.6 per cent) are living below

poverty line. The average monthly income of a respondent is Rs.1360.64.

105
 FIGURE 2

THE DIAGRAMATIC REPRESENTATION BY INDIVIDUAL INCOME PER

MONTH

60

50

40

Per
30cent Income

20

10

0
Below 1000 1001-2000 2001-3000 3001-4000 Above 4000
Income

FAMILY INCOME

There is a variation between the individual income and family income of the

respondents. The family income is contributed by one or two bread-winners or potential

earners. So the family income of the respondents in the sample villages mainly depends

106
on the earning of one potential earner and supported by one supplementary earner. The

following table shows the distribution of monthly family income of the respondents.

TABLE 5.9

RESPONDENTS BY MONTHLY FAMILY INCOME

Family Income No. of families Per cent

(Rs.)

Below 2000 126 41.9

2001-3000 123 40.9

3001-4000 36 12.0

Above 4000 16 5.2

Total 301 100

Average monthly family income: Rs.2200.80

There is a similar proportion between the respondents’ family (41.9 per cent)

earning a monthly income of below Rs. 2000 and the respondents’ family (40.9 per cent)

earn a monthly income of Rs. 2001- 3000. The rest of their families (12.0 per cent) earn

Rs.3001- 4000 and 5.2 per cent of them earn above Rs.4000 per month as family income.

This shows that an overwhelming majority of the respondents’ family (82.8 per cent) are

earning below Rs.3000 per month. The average monthly family income is Rs.2200.80

and it is higher than the average individual income. So, it clearly indicates that the

households have one or two bread-winners or potential earners.

107
FAMILY SIZE
The family size of coastal village is relatively bigger than the family size of inland

villages. Especially in the fisher households, the children are considered assets, because

they help their parents in fishing and allied activities. The following table shows the

distribution of the respondents according to their family size.

TABLE 5.10

RESPONDENTS BY FAMILY SIZE

No. of Families No. of

Family Size Per cent
Respondents

1 38 38 3.2

2 38 76 6.4

3 33 99 8.3

4 67 267 22.4

5 73 364 30.6

6 32 190 16.0

7 14 100 8.4

Above 8 6 57 3.9

Total 301 1191 100

Average family size: 4.7

Average family size at National Level: 5.3 and State Level: 4.3
according to 2001 census.
Close to one-third of the respondents (30.6 per cent) have the family size of 5,

followed by 22.4 per cent of them whose family size is 4 and 16 per cent of them have 6

members family. The proportions of other respondents having different the family size

are rather insignificant. Collectively a majority (53 per cent) of them have the family size

108
of 4-5 members. This is confirmed by the average family size (4.25) of the sample

population. The average family size is close to both state level (4.3) and national level

(5.3) family size. However the average family size is a little higher than the state level

family size and a little lower than the national level family size.

It is more common to find that many of the coastal families are characterized by

fairly large size families, whereas many of them in inland areas are characterized by

small size families. This trend is reflected in the following table.

TABLE 5.11

RESPONDENTS BY FAMILY SIZE AND TYPES OF SETTLEMENT

No. of Families No. of Respondents

Family
Size Coastal Inland Total Coastal Inland Total

5 104 109 11 202 213

1-3
(4.6) (95.4) (100) (5.2) (94.8) (100)
70 102 172 265 556 821
4-6
(40.7) (59.3) (100) (32.3) (67.7) (100)
14 6 20 113 44 157
7&above
(70.0) (30.0) (6.6) (72.0) (28.0) (100)
89 212 301 389 802 1191
Total
(29.6) (70.4) (100) (32.7) (67.3) (100)

The family size is higher in the sample coastal villages than the family size in the

inland villages. The increase in family size in the coastal village results in the increase in

the proportion of families. On the other hand, the increase of family size in the inland

villages leads to the decrease in the proportion of families. The coastal village people

have less aware of the small family norm and they need more men power to do their

109
fishing occupation. That is perhaps the reason why they increase their family size by

procreating more children whereas, this is not so in the inland villages.

DISEASES

India is undergoing an epidemiological transition. Communicable diseases are on

the decline due to better living conditions and improved health care delivery system.

Simultaneously there has been a relative increase in the prevalence of non-

communicable, chronic and genetic diseases. Several diseases which could be prevented

by improving the environment, giving timely immunization and taking steps for early

detection and treatment, account for high morbidity among the people. Now almost half

the deaths in India due to various diseases are preventable.

The preventable diseases are of three types: a) Diseases caused by tuberculosis,

cholera, dysentery, malaria and worms are promoted by the poor environment, i.e. due to

lack of safe drinking water, open drains, stagnant water and crowded unhealthy living

place and working conditions, b) diseases caused by poor nutrition e.g. anemia and c)

diseases preventable by immunization like diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, small

pox, measles and poliomyelitis for which effective vaccines are available. Illnesses due to

ageing and degenerative diseases such as cardio vascular diseases are preventable.

However they can be reduced through public education as in the USA where illness due

to cardio vascular diseases was reduced by 50 per cent in 10 years through public

education. This highlights the need for improving public awareness, availability and

quality of health services all over the country. The distribution of the respondents

according to their diseases is presented in the following table.

110
 TABLE 5.12
RESPONDENTS BY DISEASES
Diseases No. of Respondents Per cent
Normal * 462 38.9
Fever and Common Cold 184 15.4
Arthritis 259 21.7
Acid Peptic Diseases and Gastritis 62 5.2
Worm Infestation 27 2.3
Lower Respiratory Problem 25 2.1
Skin Diseases 22 1.8
Bronchial Asthma 8 0.7
Cancer 27 2.3
White Discharge 6 0.5
Diabetes 16 1.5
Benign Tumors 6 0.5
Goiter 6 0.5
Old Age Changes 5 0.4
General Infection 3 0.3
Congenital Anomalies 33 2.8
Deaf Mutism 4 0.3
Other Gynecological Diseases 3 0.3
Mental Retardation 12 0.2
Deficiency Status 2 0.2
Hypertension 2 0.2
Osteoporosis 2 0.2
Tuberculosis 17 1.4
Dental Disease 1 0.1
Paralysis 1 0.1
Upper Respiratory Problem 1 0.1
Total 1191 100
* Though the respondents were normal, still they are suffering from the consequences of
chikungunya fever.

The above table clearly indicates that chronic diseases account for a higher

proportion of reported diseases than that of acute diseases. Fever and common cold (15.4

111
per cent), Arthritis (21.7 per cent), Acid peptic diseases and Gastritis (5.2 per cent)

account for close to a majority (42.3 per cent) of all reported diseases. Worm infection

(2.3 per cent), Cancer (2.3 per cent), Lower Respiratory Problem (2.1 per cent) and Skin

diseases (1.8 per cent) constitute negligible proportions of total reported diseases.

Similarly the other diseases, Bronchial Asthma (0.7 per cent), and the like, constitute

negligible proportions. In a similar way, Diabetes, Cancer, Asthma, Tuberculosis and

Deaf Mutism were the chronic diseases threatening the people in the study area. All the

respondents are still suffering from joint pain in the aftermath of chikungunya fever.

A few cases of Cerebral Palsy were reported, which is one of the painful diseases

throughout one’s life. According to Dr. Ramaguru1, “Cerebral Palsy is caused by a

permanent brain injury that will occur before, or shortly after birth, leading to lack of

muscle control and movement. It may cause a number of symptoms including seizures,

spasms, visual and hearing problems, hyper activity and learning disorder”.

1
Dean of Government Medical College Hospital, Tirunelveli.

112
 PHOTO 1

Sturge Weber Syndrome

113
 PHOTO 2

Congenital Anomaly

114
 PHOTO 3

Mentally Retarded Brothers

115
 PHOTO 4

Congenital Cleft Hand

Woman with Thyroid

116
 PHOTO 5

Polio attacked physically handicapped Girl

Boy with Hypothyroidism

117
 FIGURE 3

THE PIE-DIGRAMATIC REPRESENTATION BY DISEASES

Normal *
Fever and Common Cold
Arthritis
Acid Peptic Diseases and Gastritis
Worm Infestation
Lower Respiratory Problem
Skin Diseases
Bronchial Asthma
Cancer
White Discharge
Diabetes
Benign Tumors
Goiter
Old Age Changes
General Infection
Congenital Anomalies
Deaf Mutism
Other Gynecological Diseases
Mental Retardation
Deficiency Status
Hypertension
Osteoporosis
Tuberculosis
Dental Disease
Paralysis
Upper Respiratory Problem

TYPES OF DISEASE

The respondents’ diseases are classified into acute diseases and chronic diseases in the

village settlements. The following table shows the distribution of types of disease among the

respondents.

118
 TABLE 5.13

RESPONDENTS BY TYPES OF DISEASE

Types of Disease No. of Respondents Per cent

No disease 462 38.8

Acute 303 25.4

Chronic 426 35.8

Total 1191 100

A significant proportion of the respondents (38.8 per cent) have no

health problems, while over one-third of them (35.8 per cent) have chronic diseases and

the rest of them (25.4 per cent) have acute diseases. The chronic types of diseases are

more in the study area than the acute type of disease.

Søren Pind, Denmark’s Minister for Development Cooperation, states:2

The chronic diseases are, at present, the causes of

35 million deaths every year. In other words, of all deaths
worldwide 80 per cent occur in low and middle-income
countries. According to the World Bank, now the chronic
diseases are among the most significant causes of illness
and death among the working-age populations in
developing countries. One-third of the poorest two quintiles
in developing countries die prematurely due to chronic
diseases. This has a substantial impact on countries’
possibilities for economic growth. “In many developing
countries there is a growing need to increase focus on
public health initiatives that can address prevention of
chronic non-communicable diseases.

2
World Diabetes Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark, 14th April 2010

119
AGE AND TYPES OF DISEASE

As regards acute disease, they increase of age leads to the decrease of the

proportion of respondents suffering from acute disease.

As regards chronic disease, the increase of age leads to the increase of the

proportion of respondents suffering from chronic diseases. This type of variation is

known as concomitant variation. The data in the following table show that there is high

level of morbidity among the young and the old age respondents.

The following table depicts the relationship between the age of the respondents

and their types of disease.

TABLE 5.14

RESPONDENTS BY AGE AND TYPES OF DISEASE

Types of Disease
Age Total
No disease Acute Chronic
255 210 47 512
0-14
(49.8) (41.0) (9.2) (100)
52 21 36 109
15-25
(47.7) (19.3) (33.0) (100)
71 30 123 224
26-40
(31.7) (13.4) (54.9) (100)
58 34 147 239
41-60
(24.3) (14.2) (61.5) (100)
26 8 73 107
Above 60
(24.3) (7.5) (68.2) (100)
462 303 426 1191
Total
(38.8) (25.4) (35.8) (100)
χ 2 = 328.71 Df = 8 P < 0.01

120
 Among the respondents in the age group of 0-14 (49.8 per cent) and 15-25 (47.7

per cent) many of them have no health problems. Over a majority of respondents having

chronic diseases are in the age groups of 26-40 (54.9 per cent), 41-60 (61.5 per cent) and

above 60 age (68.2 per cent). On the other hand, the proportion of respondents having

acute diseases are less than the proportion of their counterparts having chronic diseases,

especially in the age group of 15-25, 26-40, 41-60 and above 60.This clearly shows that

the proportion of young respondents having diseases is significantly less than that of their

elder counterparts. The statistical analysis proves that there is a high significant

relationship between the age of the respondents and their types of disease. A similar

result is also found by Shariff, (1995) in his survey3.

SEX AND TYPES OF DISEASE

Though the nature has set equilibrium between male and female, human

interferences in to the nature’s performance alter this equilibrium. Irrespective of caste

and community there is universal discrimination against women. Gender bias

continues to exist in India in all aspects including health care. Women from infant

stage to their old age get an unfair deal in matters of health. They are conditioned

through generations to place themselves last within the family itself. They themselves

bear in silence, pains and discomforts for long periods of time without seeking relief.

They earn for family by toiling themselves. Within or outside their home from dawn

to dusk, they seem to be invisible labour and their substantial contribution to their

family income goes unnoticed. The priority of their health is not given due to

3
National Council of Applied Economic Research) NCAER 1993 survey.

121
importance at their family level. The following table exhibits the relationship between

sex of the respondents and their types of disease.

TABLE 5.15

RESPONDENTS BY SEX AND TYPES OF DISEASE

Types of Disease
Sex Total
No Problem Acute Chronic

224 127 125 476

Male
(47.1) (26.7) (26.2) (100)
238 176 301 715
Female
(33.3) (24.6) (42.1) (100)
462 303 426 1191
Total
(38.8) (25.4) (35.8) (100)
χ 2 = 34.49 Df = 2 P < 0.01

A significant proportion of male respondents (47.1 per cent) are free from

diseases. As regards the acute diseases that affect the respondents, the proportion of male

respondents (26.7 per cent) is more or less equal to the proportion of their female

counterparts (24.6 per cent).But, with respect to chronic diseases, the proportion of

female respondents (42.1 per cent) is over one and a half time higher than their male

counterparts (26.2 per cent). However, this has been statistically proved that there is a

high significant relationship between the types of disease affecting the respondents and

their sex. In other words, more female respondents than their male counterparts are

suffering from chronic diseases.

122
 This is evident from a study that a high natural resistance of females to

morbidity in their younger age is apparent which gets converted into high level of risks in

subsequent ages, mostly emerging out of socio-behavioural factors.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION AND TYPES OF DISEASE

The education and health are two sides of the same coin. Education

and Health are inseparable and complementary to each other. Education and health are

the major instruments for the development of a country. The educated and healthy people

of the country will bring about socio-economic changes, which will improve their quality

of life. Particularly the task of educating woman should be the prime focus of the

country.

The following table depicts the relationship between educational qualification of

the respondents and their types of disease

TABLE 5.16

RESPONDENTS BY EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION AND TYPES OF

DISEASE

Types of Disease
Educational Qualification Total
No Disease Acute Chronic
Illiterates 110 53 120 283
(38.9) (18.7) (42.4) (100)
Literates 284 217 245 746
(38.1) (29.1) (32.8) (100)
Educated 68 33 61 162
(42.0) (20.4) (37.6) (100)
Total 462 303 426 1191
(38.8) (25.4) (35.8) (100)
χ 2 = 40.61 Df = 4 P < 0.01

Note: Literates refer to those who studied up to middle school and educated refer to those
whose educational qualification ranges from SSLC to Post graduate.

123
 A significant proportion of respondents (38.8 per cent) from the educated

category don’t have any health problem. The chronic diseases are higher among the

illiterates (42.4 per cent) than their literate (32.8 per cent) and educated (37.6 per cent)

counterparts. On the other hand, the acute diseases are higher among the literate

respondents (29.1 per cent) than the rest of them.

This shows that the education makes the respondents aware of the seriousness of

the diseases. The statistical analysis of data proves that there is a high significant

relationship between the educational qualification of the respondents and types of

disease.

OCCUPATIONAL STATUS AND TYPES OF DISEASE

The respiratory tract and skin are readily accessible to toxic factors in the

environment; not surprisingly they account for a high proportion of all work-related

diseases. Back pain is a common problem among the manual and sedentary workers. But

among heavy manual workers such as miners, dockers and nurses, it is an important

cause of disability. Osteoarthrosis of the spine, hip, or knee is particularly common in

heavy manual workers. Like this the interphalangeal joints are affected among the

workers, especially tailors. Occupational factors are associated with a broad spectrum of

disorders affecting both central nervous system and causing organic and also behavioural

manifestations. Men and women are exposed to a similar range of occupational hazards

but, by virtue of child bearing function, women experience additional occupational risks

mainly affecting the fetus. The following table illustrates the relationship between

occupational status of the respondents and the types of disease affecting them.

124
 TABLE 5.17

RESPONDENTS BY OCCUPATIONAL STATUS AND TYPES OF DISEASE

Occupational Types of Disease

Total
status
No Disease Acute Chronic

344 226 254 824

Unemployment
(41.7) (27.4) (30.9) (100)
Traditional 11 5 34 50
occupation (22.0) (10.0) (68.0) (100)
Employed in
private 22 4 16 42
sector/public (52.4) (9.5) (38.1) (100)
sector
85 68 122 109
Self-employed
(29.4) (15.6) (55.0) (100)
462 303 426 1191
Total
(38.8) (25.4) (35.8) (100)
χ 2 = 70.62 Df = 6 P < 0.01

Regarding the classification of occupation, the traditional occupation includes

agriculture and fishing. Petty business, beedi rolling and coolie work are categorized

under the self employed. Over a majority (55 per cent) of the respondents, who are

affected by the chronic diseases, are self employed persons and over two-thirds of them

(68 per cent) having chronic diseases are engaged in traditional occupation. In the same

category, significant proportions of them are unemployed (30.9 per cent) and employed

in private/public sectors (38.1 per cent). As regards to acute disease, over one-fourth of

them (27.4 per cent) are unemployed. The statistical analysis also shows that there is high

significant relationship between the respondents’ occupation and their types of disease.

125
MARITAL STATUS AND TYPES OF DISEASE

The following table presents the relationship between the marital status of the

respondents and their types of disease

TABLE 5.18

RESPONDENTS BY MARITAL STATUS AND TYPES OF DISEASE

Marital Types of Disease

Status Total
No Disease Acute Chronic

304 227 81 612

Unmarried
(49.7) (37.1) (13.2) (100)
137 71 285 493
Married
(27.8) (14.4) (57.8) (100)
19 5 59 83
Widowed
(22.9) (6.0) (71.1) (100)
2 1 3
Separated -
(66.7) (33.3) (100)
462 303 426 1191
Total
(38.8) (25.4) (35.8) (100)
χ 2 = 292.19 P < 0.01 Df = 6

There is a difference between the married and the unmarried respondents in terms

of acute and chronic diseases affecting them. After marriage, the people seem to have

given less importance to their health. This is the pre-dominant reason for more diseases

among the married respondents. The statistical analysis also shows that there is a high

significant relationship between their marital status and types of disease. This is

substantiated by the following case studies.

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Case: Saraswathi (29)

I have experienced differences in my life before and

after marriage. I used to take all kind of foods and consult
doctors at regular intervals to check my health status. I was
very conscious about my health before marriage. But after
my marriage, I couldn’t concentrate on my health.
Nevertheless I have to care my health for the sake of my
family. I have completely changed my food habit mainly to
keep my health in good status. If I do not do so, who will
take care of my children and husband. Hence, I never miss to
visit health camps organized in and around my village for
health check up

Case: Village Health Nurse (49)

I am working as VHN in this area for more than 7

years. I found women from this region engaged
themselves in secondary occupations. From the
morning to evening and even late evening, they do in
beedi rolling. Regarding job married women spend
more time than the unmarried women due to the
economic condition of the family. They are less care
about their health. I used to explain to them about the
importance of health. But, to them, family is more
important than their health and therefore they are, after
marriage, less care about their health. This is the mind
set of the married women in this area. So it is difficult
to motivate them to take care of their health.

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MONTHLY FAMILY INCOME AND TYPES OF DISEASE

The following table illustrates the relationship between family income of the

respondents and their types of disease

TABLE 5.19

RESPONDENTS BY MONTHLY FAMILY INCOME PER MONTH AND TYPES

OF DISEASE

Types of Disease
Family
Total
Income No
Acute Chronic
Disease
Below 393 271 373 1037
2000 (37.9) (26.1) (36.0) (100)
63 26 44 133
2000-4000
(47.4) (19.5) (33.1) (100)
Above 6 6 9 21
4000 (28.6) (28.6) (42.8) (100)
462 303 426 1191
Total
(38.8) (25.4) (35.8) (100)

Close to two-thirds of the respondents (62.1 per cent) in the income category of

below Rs.2000 have acute as well as chronic diseases. A majority of the respondents

(52.6 per cent) in the income group of Rs.2000-4000 have similar diseases. But a great

majority of them (71.4 per cent) in the income group of above Rs. 4000 have similar

diseases. There is therefore no significant relationship between the respondents’ monthly

family income and types of disease. The result is supported by NCAER survey 1995.

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The survey reports:

With the increase in the income status of the

household, the prevalence rate of serious communicable
diseases and acute illnesses come down; while the
prevalence of chronic illnesses increases in income level.
Two important factors can explain this: firstly, with the
rise in the economic status, the diseases of poverty and
malnutrition are replaced by the diseases of affluence.
Secondly, due to mortality differentials among different
income groups, the prevalence of chronic illnesses may
be more among the higher income households, as
compared to lower income households.

The socio-demographic profile of the respondents in this chapter

constitutes the base for studying them in terms of their diseases. Sex, age,

community, education, occupation, income and family size of the respondents are

analyzed with the diseases to find the relationship. From the analysis, there is a

significant relationship between the respondents’ socio-demographic variables

and their diseases. This is also supported by the following diagrammatic

representation between the respondents’ socio- demographic variables and their

diseases.

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 FIGURE 4

THE DIAGRAMATIC REPRESENTATION SHOWING THE

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TYPES OF DISEASE AND SOCIO-
DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5 Sex
Mean

Age
2.0
Educational Qualific

ation
1.5

Primary Occupation
1.0
Marital Status

.5 Family Income
No Problem Acute Chronic

Other Disease

130