title: Morbidity patterns among the welders of eastern Nepal: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Welding process has many hazards that the welders are exposed to resulting in numbers of health effects and diseases. Safety measures and practices among welders are important ways of preventing or reducing the health hazards associated with this occupation. We conducted this study to find out the morbidity patterns among the welders working in eastern Nepal.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was conducted among 300 welders using semi structured questionnaire. Morbidity categories were classified based on symptoms experienced in past 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the welders learned welding by apprenticeship, without any formal health and safety training. Injury was the most common problem at work followed by skin problems and eye symptoms. Age of the welders, duration of employment & welding hours per day were associated with the morbidities among the welders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need for occupational health services for welders in Nepal. While further research may be required to make policy recommendations, the current study provides a baseline morbidity burden among these welders to look for interventions to promote health and safety at work for this neglected group of workers in Nepal.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health & Community Medicine, B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.
authors.forename: Shyam Sundar
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8614-1087
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Budhathoki
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health & Community Medicine, B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.
authors.forename: Suman Bahadur
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health & Community Medicine, B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.
authors.forename: Surya Raj
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Niraula
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health & Community Medicine, B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.
authors.forename: Paras K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Pokharel
keywords: Morbidity among welders; Occupational health and safety in Nepal; Welders