An Evaluation of the Relationship Between Socioeconomic Factors and Health Outcomes of Women Workers in Agriculture and Industry in Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48047/0m4xpn65Keywords:
Cross- sectional, Economic disparities, Relationship, Chi-Square, Health facilityAbstract
This study aims to evaluate the relationship between socio-economic factors and health outcomes among women engaged in agricultural and industrial occupations in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. Specifically, it investigates how socio-economic determinants such as age, education, income, and asset ownership influence the physical and mental health conditions, as well as the access to healthcare services, among women workers in both sectors. The study is based entirely on primary data, collected through a well-structured and pre-tested interview schedule. A cross-sectional research design was adopted to capture a snapshot of the prevailing health conditions and socio-economic disparities among the target population. Data were collected during the period of January to June 2024 from a total of 470 women respondents—229 agricultural workers and 241 industrial workers—selected through a multistage random sampling technique. The research was conducted across two blocks, Cuddalore and Kurinjipadi, covering six villages that were purposively chosen for their representative occupational diversity. To analyze the data, both descriptive (mean, percentage, standard deviation) and inferential statistical tools were employed, including the Chi-square test and correlation analysis, using SPSS and MS Excel. The findings reveal significant negative correlations between age and income/access to healthcare, while positive correlations were observed between education and income levels. Notably, annual income and access to healthcare showed the strongest inverse correlation (r = –0.797), emphasizing the critical role of economic status in determining healthcare accessibility. The Chi-square test further confirmed that age, education, annual income, and asset income are significantly associated with health facility accessibility, while family type was found to be statistically insignificant.
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