Occupational health profile of Canadian Maritimes truck drivers

Work ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 251-257
Author(s):  
Mathieu Tremblay ◽  
Wayne J. Albert ◽  
Martin Lavallière ◽  
Mathieu Belanger ◽  
François Gallant ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: There are over 12,000 professional truck drivers in the Canadian Maritime provinces, with the majority being in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Previous studies have focused on the health of Canadian and American truck drivers but the occupational health status of truck drivers in the Maritime Provinces remains undocumented. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this cross-sectional study was to provide a general, occupational health and demographic characteristics description of professional truck drivers in the Maritimes. METHODS: One-hundred and four male truck drivers from the Canadian Maritime Provinces volunteered for this study. Nine occupational health indicators were measured (seven were self-reported via questionnaire and two were physical measurements). Participants self-reported their age, years of truck driving experience and education. RESULTS: Only one-quarter of the current sample had no health conditions. In contrast, more than half were obese, one third had back problems, and one-sixth had a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). The group comparison analysis showed that the group without health condition was younger and more educated than the group with multiple health conditions. For this study, age and low rate of education were associated with an increased number of health conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to health profiles of other populations of North American truck drivers, this study suggests that the majority of truck drivers in the Canadian Maritime Provinces have at least one poor indicator of occupational health.

2021 ◽  
pp. 140349482110454
Author(s):  
Amanda M.S. Christesen ◽  
Camilla K. Knudsen ◽  
Kirsten Fonager ◽  
Martin N. Johansen ◽  
Signe Heuckendorff

Aim: Parental mental health conditions adversely affect the children. Information on the prevalence of parental mental health conditions is needed to help policymakers allocate resources appropriately. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of children with parental mental health conditions in Denmark and further estimate the age-specific prevalence and geographical variation. Methods: In this nationwide register-based cross-sectional study, we included all children born between 2000 and 2016 if they resided in Denmark on 31 December 2016. Information on both maternal and paternal mental health conditions was retrieved from primary and secondary healthcare registers. Parental mental health conditions were categorised in three severity groups: minor, moderate, and severe. We estimated the proportion of children with parental mental health conditions on 31 December 2016. Results: Of the 1,106,459 children aged 0–16 years, 39.1% had at least one parent with a mental health condition. The prevalence increased with age of the children until the age of six years. Geographical variation in the prevalence ranged from 29.0% to 48.3% in the 98 municipalities. Minor parental mental health conditions (23.5%) were more common than moderate (13.5%) and severe parental mental health conditions (2.2%). Hospital-diagnosed parental mental health conditions were prevalent in 12.8% of the children. Conclusions: Two in five children aged 0–16 years in Denmark have parents with a mental health condition and geographical variation exists. The high prevalence of children with parental mental health conditions is an important public health challenge, which calls for attention.


2022 ◽  
Vol 75 (suppl 2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francely Tineli Farinha ◽  
Gesiane Cristina Bom ◽  
Maila Meryellen Ferreira Garcia Manso ◽  
Priscila Capelato Prado ◽  
Claudia Regina Matiole ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objectives: to identify the use of religious/spiritual coping in informal caregivers of children with cleft lip and/or palate, dysphagic, powered exclusively by probe. Methods: descriptive and cross-sectional study, including 30 informal caregivers. For data collection, a Sociodemographic Questionnaire and the Brief Religious/Spiritual Coping Scale were used. For statistical analysis, ANOVA, Student’s t and Spearman’s correlation tests were used, with a significance level of 5%. Results: the use of religious/spiritual coping was high among participants (mean=3.71), with a predominance of positive (mean=3.30) compared to negative (mean=1.88). It was evident that the greater the reported importance of religiosity/spirituality in the participants’ lives, the greater the positive coping (p=0.001). Conclusions: informal caregivers used positive religious/spiritual coping as a way of coping with care demands related to the child’s health condition. These findings point to the importance of including spirituality/religiosity as health indicators.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nirmeen Rifat Khan ◽  
Tanjeem Rabika Dipti ◽  
Syeda Khaleda Ferdousi ◽  
Mohammad Zaid Hossain ◽  
Sultana Ferdousi ◽  
...  

A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June of 2013 to find out the occupational health hazards among the workers of different garment factories in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Total sample was 145 and purposive sampling technique was followed for data collection, which was done by face to face interview. The data was collected on a structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 17.0. Majority (40%) were found in the age group of 16-20 years where mean age was 23.30 ±6.92 years. Among them female (89%) outnumbered the male (11%). Of them 96% were Muslim. Majority (48.3%) were educated up to primary school and most of them (55.9%) were married. 91.7% had monthly salary of 1001-5000 taka. 52.4% respondents were machine operator, but maximum (75%) were unskilled and 72% had length of job between 2-7 years. 91% respondents normally worked for 8-9 hours. 85.5% did 2-3 hours overtime. In the last one year 64.8% had no accident but minor cut, burn or injury was faced by 28.3%. Most of the (44%) respondents did not complain about physical environmental pollution but 33.8% complained of noise pollution. Majority (84.8%) were satisfied with the constant presence of doctor or nurse in their factory. Maximum (51%) respondents suffered from headache or shoulder pain. Insomnia was common in 20% respondents. Majority (56.6%) did not mention any permanent illness. In this study the prevalence of occupational health hazards was 88.28%. A significant relationship was found between noise pollution and headache (P<0.014) and also between length of job (in years) & backache (P<0.091). More emphasis should be given to the workers to improve their health condition and working environment, so that they can increase their efficiency which can ultimately increase the production and add GDP to the country.J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 24, No.1, April, 2015, Page 36-43


Author(s):  
Caitlin Patler ◽  
Altaf Saadi

AbstractConditions in immigrant detention centers facilitate the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19. However, there is no publicly-available data on detainees’ health characteristics, making it difficult to estimate the prevalence of risk among detained people. We use cross-sectional survey data from the only survey of detained immigrants, conducted in California in 2013–2014, to assess the prevalence and health-related correlates of health conditions among detained immigrants. We calculated the proportion of detained immigrants with chronic conditions, their interruptions in care, and stratified by sociodemographic characteristics, evaluating differences using two-tailed tests. Among 529 detained immigrants, 42.5% had at least one chronic health condition; 15.5% had multiple chronic conditions. 20.9% experienced disruption in care upon entering detention. 95.6% had access to stable housing in the U.S. Many detained people face health conditions that confer greater risk for poor outcomes with COVID-19. Stable residence can facilitate release of detainees via Alternatives to Detention programs.


Author(s):  
Wangyang Chen ◽  
Jixi Wang ◽  
Bintao Ye ◽  
Jun Zhou ◽  
Weibo Wang

Abstract Aim: To analyse the characteristics of the main leukocyte subsets and elucidate their distributions amongst the natural population. We wanted to determine whether leukocyte subsets are potential biomarkers to evaluate the risk of common chronic diseases. Background: The peripheral blood leukocyte count is a routine exam performed to detect pathogen infections. Recently, subsets of white blood cells and their homeostasis have shown strong associations with some chronic diseases. Therefore, studies aiming to discover whether the distribution of leukocyte counts and its subsets are useful for predicting health conditions are worthwhile. Methods: This cross-sectional study analysed 10 564 residents from the basic public health service project of the Health Checkup Program performed by the BaiYun Community Health Service Center. Data on demographic information, physical measurements, medical history, and routine blood examination parameters were collected using questionnaires and health check-ups. Restricted cubic spline incorporated into logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between subsets of leukocytes and common chronic diseases. Findings: The counts of leukocytes and their subsets in males were higher than those in females amongst all age groups, yet the percentages of lymphocytes and neutrophils did not present sex-specific differences. A low lymphocyte count and percentage were associated with old age. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with hypertension was higher than that in the non-hypertensive population. The risk of NLR in the top quartiles was 1.17-fold higher than that in people in the lowest quartiles. Conclusions: The distributions of the white blood cell count and percentage were associated with age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). In addition to the immune barrier for pathogens, the NLR or monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) may be potentially used to indicate the risk of some chronic non-communicable diseases. Homeostasis of subsets of leukocytes may be an important biomarker for body health conditions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Casey Mace Firebaugh ◽  
Brandon Eggleston ◽  
Michelle Beaupre

Introduction: The number of individuals practicing hot yoga across the United States has increased over the past decade, though the risks of hot yoga practice are not yet fully understood. The American population in general has a high prevalence of a number of chronic health conditions including heart disease, asthma, and diabetes. However, the risks for individuals with these pre-existing health conditions have not yet been identified. Methods: A large cross-sectional study (n=700) was conducted via online survey. Results: A Chi-squared analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between various pre-existing health conditions and the incidence of an adverse outcome related to participation in hot yoga practice. Discussion: Every pre-existing health condition recorded in this study was a risk factor for at least one adverse outcome resulting from hot yoga practice. Further study is required to verify populations most at risk and preventing injury or illness resulting from hot yoga participation. Conclusion: Little is known about the risks of hot yoga practice for those with various health conditions. This paper outlines the associations between hot yoga injuries and adverse outcomes and pre-existing health conditions. Keywords: Hot Yoga, Risks, Injuries, Pre-existing Conditions, Safety


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. e213400
Author(s):  
Jullian Josnei de Souza ◽  
Juliana Squizatto Leite ◽  
Ricardo Bahls ◽  
Rodrigo Stanislawczuk Grande ◽  
Fabio André Santos

Aim: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the oral hygiene habits, oral health conditions, and the perception about the influence of oral health conditions on the physical performance of youth and professional volleyball and soccer athletes. Methods: A total of 96 male athletes participated: 48 volleyball players (25 youth and 23 professional players); and 48 soccer players, of whom 22 were youth, and 26 were professional players. We analyzed the oral hygiene and oral health condition (daily toothbrush, flossing, mouthwash, dental plaque, orthodontic treatment, dental/facial trauma, temporomandibular dysfunction, malocclusion, and the athletes’ perception about the influence of oral health conditions on the physical performance (yes or no)). Comparisons were made between the youth and professional athletes for each sport (volleyball and soccer). According to each variable, we applied the Chi-square, Fisher’s Exact, and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: For soccer athletes, we found significant differences between youth and professionals for: flossing (p=0.014), orthodontic treatment (p=0.028), dental/facial trauma (p=0.041), and the athletes’ perception about oral health and physical performance (p<0.001). Considering the category (youth and professional) regardless of the type of sport, we found significant differences for dental plaque (p=0.024) and dental/facial trauma (p=0.005). According to the sport (volleyball and soccer), independent of the category, we found significant differences for daily brushing, dental/facial trauma (p=0.005), and the athletes’ perception about oral health and physical performance (p=0.006). Conclusion: We concluded that the surveyed athletes had good oral health and believed that oral health can influence sports performance.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 626
Author(s):  
Saber Yezli ◽  
Yara Yassin ◽  
Abdulaziz Mushi ◽  
Bander Balkhi ◽  
Andy Stergachis ◽  
...  

We aimed to investigate the knowledge and practices of Hajj pilgrims regarding medication storage and handling during the Hajj mass gathering. In this cross-sectional study, adult pilgrims from 30 countries were interviewed using a structured questionnaire during the 2019 Hajj. The study enrolled 1221 participants with a mean age of 50.8 years (SD = 12.5, range = 18–98) and male:female ratio of 1.7:1. Most pilgrims were literate, 50.4% had a university or higher education, and 38% reported at least one underlying health condition. Most pilgrims reported receiving education regarding the proper way to store their medication during Hajj, mainly from physicians (73.7%) and pharmacists (39.4%). Although 68.2% of pilgrims had good knowledge regarding medication storage and the potential effect of inappropriate storage conditions on medications and health, inadequate knowledge and poor practice were identified among some. Level of education, having an underlying health condition and receiving health education on mediation storage were independently associated with good knowledge. Most pilgrims took their medications with them during Hajj, although storage and handling of their medication also varied depending on the stages of their Hajj pilgrimage journey. Improving Hajj pilgrims’ awareness and knowledge about appropriate storage and handling of their medications are beneficial in reducing the risk of associated adverse health outcomes, both during Hajj and beyond the mass gathering.


Author(s):  
Xin Wang ◽  
Taifeng Du ◽  
Xiaoling Shi ◽  
Kusheng Wu

Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. CC is mainly caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), which can be prevented by vaccination. We conducted a cross-sectional study in secondary occupational health school (SOHS) through a questionnaire aimed to assess the awareness and knowledge regarding HPV infection of students. A total of 2248 students participated in the survey, 45.3% of them had heard about CC, while only 21.9% of them had heard about HPV; and 74.2% had no idea of the causal link between HPV infection and CC. Most participants displayed poor awareness and knowledge about HPV infection. The results suggested that age, grade, major, academic performance, etc. were correlated with higher awareness of CC, HPV and HPV infection (p < 0.05). In multivariable logistic analysis, third-grade students had the most increased awareness of CC (OR = 17.13, 95%CI: [8.11, 36.15]), HPV (OR = 6.59, 95%CI: [4.16, 10.43]) and HPV vaccine (OR = 2.78, 95%CI: [1.78, 4.32]) when compared to first-grade. Awareness and knowledge regarding HPV infection were insufficient among students in SOHS. As the future healthcare providers, these results highlight the need to supplement targeted education to improve their awareness and knowledge of HPV and vaccination.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 138-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natália Araujo de Almeida ◽  
Annelita Almeida Oliveira Reiners ◽  
Rosemeiry Capriata de Souza Azevedo ◽  
Ageo Mário Cândido da Silva ◽  
Joana Darc Chaves Cardoso ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: to verify the prevalence of and factors associated with polypharmacy among elderly residents of the city of Cuiabá, in the state of Mato Grosso. Method: a cross-sectional study of 573 people aged 60 and over was performed. Polypharmacy was defined as the use of five or more medications. To investigate the association between polypharmacy and sociodemographic variables, health and access to medication, the Mantel Haenszel chi square test was used in bivariate analysis and Poisson regression was used in multivariate analysis. The significance level adopted was 5%. Result: the prevalence of polypharmacy was 10.30%. Statistically significant associations were found between polypharmacy and living with others, describing suffering from circulatory, endocrine, nutritional and digestive tract diseases, and referring to financial difficulties for the purchase of medicines. Conclusion: some social and health condition factors play an important role in the use of multiple medications among the elderly.


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