Abstract
We aimed to investigate the association between occupational exposures and health-related quality of life among both informal and formal workers in the Brazilian Amazon. We conducted a cross-sectional study with working adults in the Manaus Metropolitan Region, Amazonas State, in 2015. Participants were selected through a three-step probabilistic sampling. The primary outcome was the health-related quality of life indicator, measured by the Brazilian validated version of the European Quality of Life 5-Dimensions 3-Levels (EQ-5D-3L) tool. Adjusted multivariate analysis was performed by Tobit regression and considered the complex sampling design. Results were converted to odds ratio (OR). Out of the 1,910 working individuals from the sample, 60.2% were formal workers. Informal workers were significantly more exposed to occupational risks than formal workers (p ≤ 0.05). Mean utility score for informal and formal workers was 0.886 (95%CI: 0.881; 0.890). Quality of life of informal workers was negatively impacted by exposure to noise (OR = 1.28; 95%CI: 1.13; 1.52), occupational stress (OR = 1.95; 95%CI: 1.65; 2.21), and industrial dust (OR = 1.46; 95%CI: 1.28; 1.72), while formal workers were negatively associated with exposure to chemical substances (OR = 1.58; 95%CI: 1.28; 1.87), noise (OR = 1.40; 95%CI: 1.23; 1.65), sun (OR = 1.65; 95%CI: 1.09; 1.40), occupational stress (OR = 1.65; 95%CI: 1.46; 1.87), biological material (OR = 2.61; 95%CI: 1.72; 3.97), and industrial dust (OR = 1.46; 95%CI: 1.28; 1.65). Exposure to occupational risks among workers from the Manaus Metropolitan Region was high, affecting both informal and formal workers. Brazilian policies need to be enforced to reduce the impacts on quality of life among workers in this region.
Highlights
IntroductionIt is estimated that approximately 2.3 million deaths related to occupational diseases occur every year worldwide, mainly due to cancer (32%), work-related circulatory diseases (23%), communicable diseases (17%), and occupational accidents (18%) 1
It is estimated that approximately 2.3 million deaths related to occupational diseases occur every year worldwide, mainly due to cancer (32%), work-related circulatory diseases (23%), communicable diseases (17%), and occupational accidents (18%) 1.In 2013, 154,240 cases of work-related diseases and injuries were reported in Brazil 2
Individual variables included: sex, age group (18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-59, ≥ 60 years old), socioeconomic classification (A/B, C1, C2, D/E, where A refers to the wealthiest and E, to the poorest 6), educational level, work type, and occupational exposure related to work activities
Summary
It is estimated that approximately 2.3 million deaths related to occupational diseases occur every year worldwide, mainly due to cancer (32%), work-related circulatory diseases (23%), communicable diseases (17%), and occupational accidents (18%) 1. In 2013, 154,240 cases of work-related diseases and injuries were reported in Brazil 2. Between 2008 and 2013, an increase in the proportion of informal workers among the reported cases was observed in the country 2. Informal workers showed worse self-reported status, greater difficulty in accessing healthcare services, and less interest in seeking healthcare services when compared to formal workers in a nationwide survey from 2008 3. Studies evaluating the occupational risks and quality of life for both formal and informal workers are scarce in Brazil.
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