Factors associated with self-rated health among mineworkers in Zambia: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Tropical medicine and health 2021-02, Vol.49 (1), p.11-11, Article 11
• Main Authors: Ohnishi, Mayumi, Tembo, Backsion, Nakao, Rieko, Matsuura, Emi, Fujita, Wakako
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cross-sectional studies; Data collection; Employees; Employment; Ethics; Health hazards; Human rights; Human security; Injuries; Mines; Mineworkers; Mining industry; Occupational health; Occupational safety; Questionnaires; Safety; Safety management; Self-rated health; Tuberculosis; Workers; Working conditions; Zambia
• ISSN: 1348-8945; 1349-4147; 1349-4147
• DOI: 10.1186/s41182-021-00300-8

This study aims to examine miners' working conditions and self-rated health status in copper mines in Zambia and to identify the conditions and factors necessary to improve the safety and health of mineworkers. A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted anonymously among copper mineworkers in Zambia in 2015 and 2016. Five targeted mining companies among 33 were introduced by the Mineworkers' Union of Zambia. Study participants were recruited at the waiting space for underground work, waiting rooms of company clinics/hospitals, and/or at training sessions, which were places permitted by the target companies to perform data collection via convenience sampling. Bivariate analyses (e.g., t tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, chi-square tests, or Cochran-Armitage tests) and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze differences in demographic characteristics and to compare their working conditions, health conditions, safety management at the workplace, and training opportunities by employment status. In total, 338 responses were analyzed. Regular employees had better working conditions, including higher incomes (P = 0.001), more likely to be guaranteed sickness insurance by the company (P