ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH HAZARDS TO THE WORKERS OF PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES OF PESHAWAR, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of our research is to assess the health hazards in the workers of different pharmaceutical Industries.

Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from January 2022 to July 2022 in 4 different pharmaceutical companies in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A sample size of 386 individuals working in 4 different pharmaceu­tical industries was selected using a nonprobability convenient sampling technique. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 for Windows.

Results: A total of 85 workers completed the questionnaire of which 64 (75.3%) were male and 21(24.7%) were female workers, whose ages varied from 25-50 years with the mean being 29.45 i.e. almost 30 years of age. Among them 20 had a primary education level, 19 had middle, 27 had SCC, 12 had HSSC and only 7 had a graduate level of education. The socioeconomic status of 66 participants was satisfactory and of 19 participants was unsatisfactory. The workers were symp­toms free before starting the job. In the eye, the most occurred symptom was irritation or itchiness of the eyes (27.1%), in GI, burning sensation in the stomach (50.6%), in the respiratory system, shortness of breath (21.2%) and in the skin, rash on the skin (45.9%).

Conclusion: Our study suggested that workers in the pharmaceutical industry are prone to various health hazards. Effective legislation and public health measures are needed to ensure the healthy environment and health of the workers.