Occupational diseases and injuries among artisanal small scale gold mining workers in Oddo Shakiso woreda, Guji zone of Oromia regional state, Southern Ethiopia

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Date

2020-12

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Addis Abeba University

Abstract

Abstract Back ground: Mining is an important economic activity; Artisanal and Small scale Gold Mining is widely practiced. This mining activity is known for different occupational exposures but the occupational health status of workers is not adequately understood. The aim of this study was to estimate the magnitude of occupational diseases and injuries of workers in Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining in Oddo Shakiso woreda, Oromia, Ethiopia. Methods: cross sectional study design was employed from April to June 2020. Using simple random sampling technique 403 participants was interviewed. Protein was analyzed using urine dipstick test to explore mercury toxicity and observation checklists were utilized. Linear regression for mercury intoxication and logistic regression for respiratory diseases and injury were applied. Predictor variables with p value <0.05 in multivariate analysis were considered as determinant factors. β coefficients for linear regression and odds ratio for logistic regression with 95% CI were used for the interpretation of results. Results: the overall prevalence of mercury toxicity was estimated to be 50.4% (95% CI: 45.2%- 55.3%), respiratory diseases 40.0% (95% CI: 35.0- 44.9 %) and the incidence of injury was 29%. Mercury toxicity was significantly associated with marital status, years of work experience and exposure to chemicals in mining. Respiratory disease was also associated with alcohol drinking, living with animals in the same house, work experience, excavation sifting amalgamation jobs, and exposure to chemicals and engagement in additional job. The occurrence of injury was associated with work shift, and excavation and sifting job. Conclusion: High prevalence of occupational diseases and injuries were found. Work-related and behavioral characteristics were significantly associated with the occurrence of diseases and injuries. The health problems of workers might be due to occupational exposure in artisanal and small scale gold mining. Therefore, workers’ health protection program including awareness creation and personal protective equipment access should be initiated. Further intervention research should be conducted.

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Keywords

Occupational diseases, Artisanal small scale gold mining, mercury toxicity, respiratory diseases and injury

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