Impact of chronic lymphatic filariasis on quantity and quality of productive work among weavers in an endemic village from India.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of hydrocele and lymphoedema on the quantity and quality of productive work of weavers.


METHODS
Case-control study in an endemic village in Andhra Pradesh, India. We collected qualitative data on work activities from cases and age- and sex-matched controls through informal discussions and observation.


RESULTS
The mean (+/-standard deviation) daily work time of cases was 7.38 h (+/-2.47), significantly less than that of controls (8.17+/-2.41 h). Lost work time was equivalent to around 29 days of work in a year. Gender had significant influence on the mean number of working hours in this occupational group. Most cases could not weave, which is physically demanding, and preferred less strenuous tasks such as spinning, starching, dyeing or sizing. Hard physical labour constitutes 71.5% of total work time among patients and 83.7% in controls. As income also depends on the type of work, cases earn less.


CONCLUSIONS
Filariasis has an adverse impact on the productivity of weavers, and morbidity management strategies and control programmes need to take this into account.
Babu
B V
BV
Epidemiology Division, Regional Medical Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India. babubv@sify.com
Swain
B K
BK
Rath
K
K
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004526:Efficiency; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D006848:Testicular Hydrocele / Q000453:epidemiology; D013783:Textile Industry; D013997:Time Factors; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*