Nutritional status and productivity of tea pluckers in Norwood Estate, Hatton

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of nutritional status on the productivity of tea pluckers in Norwood estate. METHODS: All women tea pluckers of 5 randomly selected divisions of Norwood Estate in Bogawantalawa Plantations, Hatton were recruited. Nutritional status was assessed by measurement of Body Mass Index (BMI) and haemoglobin levels (Hb). The daily weight of tea leaves plucked, and the number of days worked by each woman during November and December 2001 were recorded. Productivity was calculated as average weight of tea leaves plucked per month. Data were analyzed using Epilnfo 6 and SPSS 10. RESULTS: A total of 304 women were recruited to the study. The majority (59.9%) had a low BMI (<18.5), while 76% were anaemic (Hb <12.0 g/dl). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between monthly productivity and Hb levels (Pearson's R = 0.81) but not with BMI. Different regression models were applied to the data to predict the monthly amount of tea plucked in kg. The simplest model using Hb as the only predictor variable revealed that variation in Hb level accounted for 65% of variation in productivity (adjusted R2=0.651). An increase in Hb by 1 g/dl was associated with an increase of 37 kg of tea leaves plucked per month. CONCLUSIONS: Decrease in haemoglobin levels is strongly associated with a decrease in individual productivity of female tea pluckers as indicated by the average weight of tea leaves plucked per month.