Sedentary Behavior and Associated Factors Among Working Adults in Eastern Ethiopia

Background: Sedentary behavior is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases. Due to changes in lifestyle, sedentary behavior is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa. However, information on the extent of sedentarism among various segments of the population is scant in low-income countries. The objective of this study was to assess the extent of high sedentary behavior and associated factors among working adults in eastern Ethiopia.Methods: A crosssectional study was conducted among 1,164 working adults at Haramaya University from December 2018 to February 2019. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the WHO STEPS and sedentary behavior questionnaire. All reported sedentary activities were added to calculate the total number of hours spent on sedentary behavior, which was then dichotomized into two categories. Those who had ≥8 sedentary hours per day were categorized as having high sedentary behavior. The prevalence ratio (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was calculated. Factors associated with outcome variables were identified using Poisson regression with a robust variance statistical model.Results: The prevalence of high sedentary behavior was 20.3% (95% CI, 18.0–22.7%) among the study participants. The prevalence of high sedentary behavior was associated with age 45–54 years adjusted PR (APR: 2.00; 95% CI = 1.01–3.97) and 55–64 years (APR: 2.16; 95% CI = 1.03–4.57), being a non-manual worker (APR: 2.11; 95% CI = 1.46–3.05), frequent khat chewers (APR: 1.57; 95% CI = 1.22–2.01), with body mass index of ≥25 kg/m2 (APR: 1.93; 95% CI = 1.53–2.44), and regular alcohol drinker (APR: 1.39; 95% CI = 1.11–1.76).Conclusion: One-fifth of working adults had high sedentary behavior. Factors associated with high sedentary behaviors were older age, being a non-manual worker, substance-use behaviors, and having a high body mass index.

CONSTRUCTION WORK IN THE LIGHT OF GAME THEORY. AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

The paper focus on queue for elevators and delays in construction industry. The author of the research was working at the position of manual worker in a skyscraper under construction in Poland. He conducted his research with the method of cover participant observation. Theoretical background of the study was the game theory

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the craft and manual worker population of Qatar

ABSTRACTBackgroundQatar experienced a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic that disproportionately affected the craft and manual worker (CMW) population who comprise 60% of the total population. This study aimed to assess the proportions of ever and/or current infection in this population.MethodsA cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted during July 26-September 09, 2020 to assess both anti-SARS-CoV-2 positivity through serological testing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity through PCR testing. Associations with antibody and PCR positivity were identified through regression analyses.ResultsStudy included 2,641 participants, 69.3% of whom were <40 years of age. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 positivity was estimated at 55.3% (95% CI: 53.3-57.3%) and was significantly associated with nationality, geographic location, educational attainment, occupation, presence of symptoms in the two weeks preceding the survey, and previous infection diagnosis. PCR positivity was assessed at 11.3% (95% CI: 9.9-12.8%) and was significantly associated with geographic location, contact with an infected person, and reporting two or more symptoms. Infection positivity (antibody and/or PCR positive) was assessed at 60.6% (95% CI: 9.9-12.8%). The proportion of antibody-positive CMWs that had a prior SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was 9.3% (95% CI: 7.9-11.0%). Only seven infections were ever severe and one was ever critical—an infection severity rate of 0.5% (95% CI: 0.2-1.0%).ConclusionsSix in every 10 CMWs have been infected, suggestive of reaching the herd immunity threshold. Infection severity was low with only one in every 200 infections progressing to be severe or critical. Only one in every 10 infections had been previously diagnosed suggestive of mostly asymptomatic or minimally mild infections.

P.1.20 Trends in prevalence of obesity according to occupational group: the korean national health and nutrition examination survey

ObjectivesThis study was designed to provide recent trends of obesity among workers in Korea, and identify whether there was difference across occupational group.MethodsWe used data from Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination survey phase I to VI (1998–2015) to analyze trends in prevalence of obesity in Korean adult workers. Obesity was defined as a BMI of 25 kg/m2 or higher. Occupation was classified into 3 groups; a) non-manual worker, b) service/sales worker, c) manual worker.ResultDuring the period from KNHANES phase I to VI, the prevalence of obesity in male workers increased in all occupations as a whole (31.1% to 39.5% in manual worker, 32.3% to 38.2% in service/sales worker, 25.3% to 39.7% in manual worker). In contrast, female workers did not show a particular tendency except for a significantly decreasing in the prevalence rate in service/sales workers (30.8% to 23.9%, p for trend 0.0048).ConclusionsThe trends of obesity prevalence by gender and occupation were different. Especially for male manual-workers, the prevalence rate has increased steadily during the period, while it has decreased steadily in female sales/service workers. These results can be used to select vulnerable groups that can be applied to obesity prevention programs first.

A study of blood donor motivation in South Africa

This chapter looks at a study of blood donor motivation in South Africa, which was commissioned by the Natal Blood Transfusion Service and carried out in Durban. Much of the fieldwork was done by six trained Bantu graduates which helps to explain the perceptive nature of some of the interview data elicited from poor and semi-literate Bantu workers. The study shows that the Bantu donor is statistically rare. They come mainly from institutional groups such as factories and schools and tend to be younger, better educated, and with higher incomes than the average Bantu adult in Durban. The concepts of blood held by the average manual worker Bantu closely link blood with health and are unfavourable to blood donation. Moreover, in the Bantu population at large there is widespread ignorance about, and fear of, blood donation. A marked characteristic of the Bantu blood donors is that they tend to give blood only once or twice.