Table 2 Prevalence of morbidities among the waste pickers and the comparison group in the previous six months

Injury/Accident

75.0 [0.68 to 0.81]

16.5 [0.09 to 0.23]

(χ2 = 94.03; p = 0.000)

 Fracture/contusion

3.5

2.9

(χ2 = 0.073; p = 0.786)

 Muscle sprain

12.5

2.9

(χ2 = 7.451; p = 0.006)

 Laceration (Needles and glass)

70.0

11.7

(χ2 = 92.58; p = 0.000)

Respiratory infection

28.0 [0.21 to 0.34]

14.6 [0.07 to 0.21]

(χ2 = 6.841; p = 0.009)

 Dust allergy

12.0

2.9

(χ2 = 6.916; p = 0.009)

 Dyspnea

14.5

10.7

(χ2 = 0.866; p = 0.352)

 Episodes of asthma

4.0

1.9

(χ2 = 0.572; p = 0.449)

 Chronic cough/Running nose

15.0

2.9

(χ2 = 10.235; p = 0.001)

 Wheeze and breathlessness

7.5

2.9

(χ2 = 2.560; p = 0.110)

 Eye infection

29.0 [0.22 to 0.35]

17.5 [0.10 to 0.24]

(χ2 = 4.805; p = 0.028)

 Eye soreness/infection

19.5

12.6

(χ2 = 2.262; p = 0.133)

 Watering of eyes

18.5

8.7

(χ2 = 5.031; p = 0.025)

 Itching of eyes

8.0

1.9

(χ2 = 4.465; p = 0.035)

Stomach problem

32.0 [0.25 to 0.38]

19.4 [0.11 to 0.27]

(χ2 = 5.371; p = 0.020)

 Nausea

14.0

1.9

(χ2 = 11.081; p = 0.001)

 Loose motion

14.0

9.7

(χ2 = 1.141; p = 0.285)

 Gastroenteritis

20.0

12.6

(χ2 = 2.564; p = 0.109)

 Constipation

7.5

3.8

(χ2 = 1.512; p = 0.219)

Skin infection

6.0 [0.02 to 0.09]

2.9 [0.00 to 0.06]

(χ2 = 1.377; p = 0.241)

 Typhoid/Jaundice

16.0

8.7

(χ2 = 3.064; p = 0.080)

 Fever/cold & cough

34.5

34.0

(χ2 = 0.008; p = 0.928)