Health woes ail working women: Study

Three out of four working women in the country suffer from health disorders, according to a survey by Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Assocham). 

The chamber’s study on multitasking seriously affecting corporate women's health reveals that 78 per cent of working women, surveyed in the age bracket of 32-58, suffer from various health ailments. Around 2,800 corporate female employees from 120 various companies and organisations were interviewed. 

While 42 per cent were suffering from lifestyle diseases like backache, obesity, depression, diabetes, hypertension and heart ailments, 22 per cent were afflicted with chronic diseases. The remaining 14 per cent had acute ailments. Nearly 42 per cent slept less than six hours on a daily basis.

The survey, conducted in ten cities - Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Pune, had 17 per cent of respondents from IT/ITeS sector, followed by financial services sector (11 per cent), engineering ( 9 per cent), telecom (8 per cent), market research/ KPO and media (6 per cent) among others. Of the 2,800 respondents, Assocham Additional Director Manju Negi said 300 were from Bangalore. 

She said respondents attributed stress to factors such as fear of losing jobs, low employment, lack of proper medical insurance among others.