Occupation-related morbidities and their determinants among security guards in southern India: doi: 10.7417/CT.2026.2060

Introduction: Security guards working in the health sector are vulnerable to various occupational health problems and face physical violence from patients and their bystanders. Objectives: To find out the various occupational health problems and its determinants among security guards. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done at various institutions affiliated with a private medical college in Mangalore. Data were collected by interviewing 157 participants. Chi-square test, Fisher’s Exact test, Unpaired t-test, and Binary logistic regression analysis were used test association. Results: Mean age of the security guards was 41(SD = 8.6) years. The median work experience was 10 years (IQR 6, 13). 119(75.8%) of them were either overweight or obese. 105(66.9%) of them did not exercise every day. 47(29.9%) did not drink sufficient water daily. 38(24.2%) of them had inadequate sleep duration per day. Among the morbidities, heat exhaustion [83(52.9%)], lower backache [42(26.7%)], and dehydration [41(26.1%)] were the most common. Symptoms suggestive of sciatica were present among 14(8.9%) participants. Sleep deprivation was significantly present among those security guards on shift duty or doing only night duty (P=0.0228). Symptoms suggestive of sciatica was present significantly more among those who performed duty mostly in a sitting position (P=0.05) Conclusion: Majority of the security guards were either overweight or obese and majority did not exercise every day. About one-fourth of them did not drink adequate water per day and did not have sufficient sleep per day. Morbidities like sleep deprivation and sciatica were associated with shift patterns and work-related postures, respectively, among the participants.