Socio-economic and health status of women involved in coir retting in Rathgama Division, Galle District

Abstract

Coir retting yards are concentrated along the southern coastal line and specially women folk, find this work as the source of their principle income for the fisher's family in off season of fishing. However, traditional conventional method of retting has adverse impacts on the ecosystem and human beings. The study was conducted to determine the impact of coir retting on the Socio- Economic Status (SES) and health status of women involved in coir retting in Rathgama are of Galle district. A total of 35 coir retting families were randomly selected and interviewed using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Data obtained was statistically analyzed by using SPSS Soft-ware. Water quality parameters, such as pH, Temperature, BOD, COD, NO3-N and conductivity were analyzed in coir retting yards. All the water quality parameters were not in permissible ranges. Literacy level in the study population was relatively low; 77 % showed primary education; < 18% and 5 % showed secondary and tertiary education respectively. The average household size and daily net income of the coir retting family involved in the industry were 4.8 and Rs. 275.00 respectively. They earn low income due to lack of proper marketing facilities. Field survey results indicated that 90 % suffer from job oriented diseases like skin disease, blindness, headache, backbone pains and respiratory disease. Retted husk release more organic pollutants and they highly affect the water quality parameters. Therefore, it is a difficult task to protect these women from these occupational hazards. Finally the majority of the families fall within the low SES with deepening poverty background depicted by low educational achievement and occupational status. The results of this study will help to design new techniques as well as providing a good market for these products to improve the income level of the target group.