Awareness of Occupational Reproductive Health Risks Among Female Textile Workers in Kano State

Occupational exposures in textile manufacturing including chemical dyes, shift work, and physical strains can adversely affect reproductive health outcomes for female workers. This study assessed awareness of occupational reproductive health risks among female textile workers in selected mills in Kano State, North West Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 170 female workers using a structured questionnaire focusing on awareness of reproductive hazards, menstrual irregularities, pregnancy outcomes, and protective behaviors. Results revealed that awareness of work-related reproductive health risks was low in 79.4 percent of respondents. A notable proportion (47.1%) reported menstrual cycle irregularities, while 32.4 percent of those with pregnancy histories reported complications they attributed to occupational exposures. Exposure to cotton dust and synthetic dyes without respiratory or skin protection was reported by 77.1 percent of respondents. Awareness of rights related to maternity protection in the workplace was adequate in only 23.5 percent of participants. Health-seeking for reproductive concerns was largely self-initiated and informal. The study concludes that occupational reproductive health education is critically needed in Kano's textile industry, and recommends workplace reproductive health awareness programs, pre-pregnancy risk counseling by occupational health nurses, and enforcement of the International Labour Organization maternity protection conventions in Nigerian textile policy. Keywords: reproductive health, textile workers, occupational exposure, female workers, Kano State.