A study on the morbidity patterns and healthcare utilization of tea garden workers of Siliguri, West Bengal, India
- 1Department of Global Public Health Policy and Governance, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka 576104 India
Abstract
Background: Tea garden workers in India, particularly in the Siliguri region of West Bengal, experience a high burden of morbidity and significant barriers to healthcare utilization due to hazardous occupational conditions, socio-economic vulnerabilities, and inadequate access to quality health services. This study aimed to assess morbidity patterns, examine healthcare utilization, and identify key determinants influencing health-seeking behaviour among tea garden workers.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2024, among 167 tea garden workers in Siliguri, West Bengal. Data were collected through interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaires using a multistage random sampling approach. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize morbidity patterns and healthcare access. Chi-square tests examined associations between variables, while multivariable Poisson and binary logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with morbidity burden and healthcare utilization. Ethical considerations, including informed consent and confidentiality, were ensured prior to data collection.
Results: The study revealed a high prevalence of infectious, chronic, and occupational health conditions among tea garden workers. Self-reported tuberculosis (50.9%), diabetes mellitus (36.5%), and occupational injuries (67.7%) were among the most commonly reported conditions. Healthcare utilization remained suboptimal, with 29.5% of symptomatic workers not seeking formal healthcare and only 20.4% reporting utilization of government health schemes. Tea garden hospitals were the most frequently utilized healthcare facilities (57.4%).
Conclusions: The findings highlight substantial health and healthcare challenges faced by tea garden workers in West Bengal. Targeted interventions are needed to improve healthcare accessibility, morbidity management, and occupational health conditions. Strengthening tea garden hospital infrastructure, enhancing workplace health programmes, improving enforcement of labour laws, and increasing awareness of government health schemes could help address existing gaps. Community-based health initiatives and financial support mechanisms may further contribute to improving the overall well-being of this marginalized workforce.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28744-9.
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BibTeX
@article{choudhury2026study,
title = {{A study on the morbidity patterns and healthcare utilization of tea garden workers of Siliguri, West Bengal, India}},
author = {Suteerna Choudhury and Kumar Sumit},
journal = {BMC Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-28744-9},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28744-9},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A study on the morbidity patterns and healthcare utilization of tea garden workers of Siliguri, West Bengal, India
AU - Suteerna Choudhury
AU - Kumar Sumit
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/31
JO - BMC Public Health
DO - 10.1186/s12889-026-28744-9
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28744-9
AB - Background: Tea garden workers in India, particularly in the Siliguri region of West Bengal, experience a high burden of morbidity and significant barriers to healthcare utilization due to hazardous occupational conditions, socio-economic vulnerabilities, and inadequate access to quality health services. This study aimed to assess morbidity patterns, examine healthcare utilization, and identify key determinants influencing health-seeking behaviour among tea garden workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2024, among 167 tea garden workers in Siliguri, West Bengal. Data were collected through interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaires using a multistage random sampling approach. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize morbidity patterns and healthcare access. Chi-square tests examined associations between variables, while multivariable Poisson and binary logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with morbidity burden and healthcare utilization. Ethical considerations, including informed consent and confidentiality, were ensured prior to data collection. Results: The study revealed a high prevalence of infectious, chronic, and occupational health conditions among tea garden workers. Self-reported tuberculosis (50.9%), diabetes mellitus (36.5%), and occupational injuries (67.7%) were among the most commonly reported conditions. Healthcare utilization remained suboptimal, with 29.5% of symptomatic workers not seeking formal healthcare and only 20.4% reporting utilization of government health schemes. Tea garden hospitals were the most frequently utilized healthcare facilities (57.4%). Conclusions: The findings highlight substantial health and healthcare challenges faced by tea garden workers in West Bengal. Targeted interventions are needed to improve healthcare accessibility, morbidity management, and occupational health conditions. Strengthening tea garden hospital infrastructure, enhancing workplace health programmes, improving enforcement of labour laws, and increasing awareness of government health schemes could help address existing gaps. Community-based health initiatives and financial support mechanisms may further contribute to improving the overall well-being of this marginalized workforce. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28744-9.
SN - 1471-2458
ER -