Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Correspondence: jan. Background: Concerns about the nutritional status of Cambodian garment workers were raised years ago but data are still scarce. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among female workers nulliparous, non-pregnant at a garment factory in Phnom Penh. Anthropometric measurements were performed and blood samples were taken to obtain results on hemoglobin, iron, vitamin A, vitamin B12 and inflammation status hemoglobinopathies not determined.
Bivariate correlations were used to assess associations. Results: Overall, No evidence of vitamin A or vitamin B12 deficiency was found.
Body mass index was associated with serum ferritin negative and serum retinol-binding protein positive concentrations, but not strongly. A comparison between underweight and not underweight workers resulted in distinctions for iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia, with a higher prevalence among not underweight.
Conclusions: The prevalence of underweight, anemia and poor iron status was high. Young and nulliparous female garment workers in Cambodia might constitute a group with elevated risk for nutritional deficiencies. Strategies need to be developed for improving their nutritional, micronutrient and health status. The poor iron status seems to contribute to the overall prevalence of anemia. Low hemoglobin and iron deficiency affected both underweight and those not underweight. Despite the fact that body mass index was negatively associated with iron stores, true differences in iron status between underweight and not underweight participants cannot be confirmed.
Keywords: underweight, anemia, micronutrient deficiency, garment factory, Cambodia, iron, vitamin A, vitamin B12, malnutrition, industry.
