Common after-shift symptoms in female workers in shoe making industry in several industrial zones in Vietnam

Abstract

    In association with the rapid growth of industrial zones, the proportion of female workers in shoe making industry is increasing. This cross-sectional study design with quantitative survey was conducted with 769 female workers in 3 shoe making companies chosen from 3 industrial zones. The findings showed that 3 common groups of after-shift symptoms in female workers in the shoe industry were musculoskeletal symptoms, eye problems and neuropsychiatric symptoms. The 5 most frequently occurred after-shift symptoms included neck pain, headache, shoulder and arm pain, eye fatigue and cough. The rate of female workers experienced mild pain in the hip and lower limbs was the highest (37.7%), second was upper and lower back pain (approximately 30%). Female workers in the shoe

industry had 3 common eye symptoms, namely dry eyes, red and itchy eyes, and blurred vision. Nearly 50% of female workers experienced at least 1 of 5 neuropsychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, stress, memory loss, difficulty to focus, boredness, sleeping difficulty, loss of sleep or headache. Statistically significant relationship was observed between neck pain and marital status; number of children; work seniority and number of years working in the company.