Abstract
BackgroundBelgium lacks a systematic overview of health differences by occupation. This is the first study to examine self-reported health among 27 occupational groups in Belgium with a lag time of 10 years.MethodsIndividual data are derived from an anonymous linkage between the 1991 and 2001 Belgian census. The total working population (25–55 years) is selected from the 1991 Belgian census. Self-reported health (1 = fair or (very) bad health; 0 = (very) good health) was obtained from the 2001 census. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the health of 1.5 million men and 1.0 million women by occupational group in 1991. The active sex-specific population in 1991 and 2001 was the reference group. Controls include age, activity status and housing status at the time of 2001 census.ResultsBoth male and female workers in physically demanding occupations were more likely to report poor health. The three occupations with the highest age-adjusted Odds Ratios (OR) were extraction and building trade workers (ORmale 2.08 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 2.05–2.10; ORfemale 2.15 CI 1.93–2.40); services elementary workers (ORmale 2.06 CI 2.03–2.10; ORfemale 2.37 CI 2.34–2.41); and labourers in construction, manufacturing and transport (ORmale 1.90 CI 1.86–1.93; ORfemale 2.21 CI 2.12–2.29). Men and women in teaching, scientific, health-related and managerial positions had the lowest age-adjusted ORs for poor self-reported health. The pattern in occupational health differences remained the same after controlling for activity status and socio-economic position.ConclusionsOccupational health inequalities are apparent after a lag time of 10 years. The identification of types of workers in poor health provide valuable insights to future health promotion strategies in the Belgian workforce.
Highlights
Belgium lacks a systematic overview of health differences by occupation
We further explore if and to what extent these results differ by age, activity status and socio-economic position
The highest percentage was found among services elementary occupations (31%) and extraction and building trades workers (31%)
Summary
Belgium lacks a systematic overview of health differences by occupation. This is the first study to examine self-reported health among 27 occupational groups in Belgium with a lag time of 10 years. Belgium has no systematic overview of occupational health differences This issue is becoming increasingly important as policy measures are being developed to encourage workers to stay employed longer. Considering the importance of deteriorating health as a motive to leave employment [1], there is a high need to understand health inequalities in the Belgian workforce. Manual work has been associated with poor health [2,3,4]. Manual workers generally have a better health at the start of employment, their health declines more rapidly during working years than
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