Assessments of the physiological Parameters among fish handlers in the two Fishing Communities of the Gambia

Introduction: Fish handlers are exposed to a variety of physiological problems due to the stressful nature of their jobs. The study aimed to assess the physiological parameters prevalent among fish handlers in the Gambia.

Methods: A two-stage random sampling design was used and Tanji and Banjul fishing communities were purposively selected, followed by a selection of 231 Fish handlers. Physiological parameters such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, and blood pressure measurements were taken from the respondents. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 20.0). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data.

 Results: The mean body mass index of fish handlers was 23.9±4.8 and 23.2±4.1 in Tanji and Banjul respectively. The comparison of mean BMI between Tanji and Banjul was not significant. The mean waist circumference and waist Hip ratio were within the normal range for both males and females in Tanji and Banjul (85.9,86.9) and (0.88, 0.87). Chi-square analysis revealed that mean body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-hip ratio were not significant in Tanji and Banjul. The mean Systolic and Diastolic blood pressure were 135.7±20.3 and 85.4±13.0 in Tanji and 129.0±14.6 and 79.4±12.5 in Banjul. Several respondents in Tanji and Banjul had pre-hypertensive systolic blood pressure. However, a comparison of the mean blood pressure between Tanji and Banjul was significant

Conclusion: As a result of the stressful nature of their job and their work durations, fish handlers are exposed to a lot of physiological issues, hence there is a need for them to be sensitized to the various hazards associated with their various activities.