Male Manual Workers Research Articles

Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) among male craft and manual workers in Qatar

Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) among male craft and manual workers in Qatar

Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) among male craft and manual workers in Qatar (2020–2021)

BackgroundThe rapid growth of Qatar in the last two decades has attracted a large influx of immigrant craft and manual workers (CMWs) seeking employment in jobs associated with food handling, domestic service, and construction. Nearly 60 % of Qatar's population are expatriates CMWs, including many from hyperendemic countries for HEV. Thus, estimating the seroprevalence of HEV in Qatar and understanding its epidemiology is essential for public health efforts to control HEV transmission in Qatar. MethodsBlood samples from 2670 CMWs were collected between 2020 and 2021. All samples were tested for HEV-IgG antibodies. Positive HEV-IgG samples were tested for HEV-IgM antibodies, and those positives were also tested for viral antigens using an HEV-Ag ELISA kit and HEV-RNA by RT-PCR to confirm current HEV infections. ResultsThe seroprevalence of HEV-IgG was 27.3 % (729/2670; 95 % CI: 25.6–29.0). Of those HEV-IgG positive, 8.23 % (60/729; 95 % CI: 6.30–10.5) were HEV-IgM positive. Of the IgM-positive samples, 2 were HEV-RNA positive (3.39 %; 95 % CI: 0.40–11.7), and 1 was HEV-Ag positive (1.69 %; 95 % CI: 0.04–9.09). In addition, HEV-IgG seroprevalence was associated with age and nationality, with the highest seroprevalence in participants from Egypt (IgG 60.0 %; IgM 5.56 %), Pakistan (IgG 59.0 %; IgM 2.24 %), Nepal (IgG 29.3 %; IgM 2.70 %), Bangladesh (IgG 27.8 %; IgM 2.45 %), and India (IgG 23.9 %; IgM 2.43 %). ConclusionIn this study, we showed that the seroprevalence of HEV among CMWs was slightly higher than what was previously reported among the urban population in Qatar (2013–2016).

Férfi fizikai dolgozók testösszetételének jellemzői: középpontban az életkor

Morbidity and mortality statistics show a shift in the morbidity structure in Hungary. Those diseases have become increasingly common that are related to lifestyle. Detecting health risk factors across different age, gender and other groups is therefore a priority. The purpose of the study is to present anthropometric variables related to the health status of male physical workers by age groups and to identify critical age stages. Male manual workers (n = 179) were recruited on a voluntary basis. Body composition was assessed using the Inbody 720 instrument. Measured and calculated characteristics included body mass index, relative muscle and fat mass, waist-to-hip ratio and visceral fat. The age dependence of the variables is presented by linear regression analysis, and the relationship between variables was characterized by correlation coefficients. A significant number of anthropometric variables are not within the healthy range. All of the variables show age dependence, but no critical age or age range could be identified. The relationship between the anthropometric methods is significant. A large number of male manual workers, regardless of age, can be identified as having a body composition that poses a clear health risk. Complex workplace health promotion programs should be launched to reduce the risk. These should include active and health-conscious lifestyles for all age groups. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(3): 96-103.

The Analysis and Pattern of Sudden Deaths at a Teaching Hospital, Telangana

Sudden natural death is defined as a healthy person's death within 24 hours after the onset of a terminal illness without any history of past illness. This study looks forward to assess the demographic profile, causes of sudden natural deaths, and the pattern involved in these cases. Materials and Methods: This prospective hospital-based study was conducted at an emergency department, Mamata General Hospital attached to Medical College, Khammam; Telangana, from January 2021 to December 2021. During this study period, 148 cases of sudden death victims were reported. Data of all sudden deaths 148 cases were collected, of which, 128 (86.48%) were male. Most of the th victims were in the 4-5 decade, urban and lower socioeconomic groups, and laborers. Most of the cases occurred in the winter season. No ill health before death with alcohol abuse and smoking habits. The majority of onset of terminal signs and symptoms were reported at their home, during morning hours, and the most common symptom was unconscious, the cardiovascular system was involved in 45% of cases, the Pulmonary System in 28%, the Neurological System in 20% and the Gastrointestinal system 12%. Coronary artery disease was the single largest cause of death. This study shows a pattern of male manual workers of age between 31-40 who have encountered sudden death at their residence during the daytime during winter in the months of January, February, and March mostly found unconscious. This study revealed that a significant number of sudden deaths occurred in adults, particularly in the population above 30 years. Cardiac troubles contributed the maximum number, with atherosclerosis being the main culprit causing coronary artery disease.

Impact of Reduced Working Hours and Night Work Hours on Metabolic Syndrome: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Epidemiological evidence linking long working hours and shift work to metabolic syndrome remains inadequate. We sought to evaluate the impact of reducing working hours on metabolic syndrome. We compared the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among male manual workers in a manufacturing company (N=371) before and after the introduction of policy to reduce daily work hours from 10 to 8 hours. Components of metabolic syndrome were measured in periodic health examinations before the intervention, 6-9 months after, and 1.5-2 years after the intervention. Generalized estimating equation models were used to estimate changes in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Analyses were stratified by day work versus shift work. The results showed a significantly decreased prevalence of metabolic syndrome 6-9 months following the intervention in day workers (risk ratio=0.68, 95% confidence interval 0.52-0.88), but the benefit disappeared after 1.5-2 years. Shift workers showed a decreased prevalence of metabolic syndrome for the whole follow-up duration after the intervention, although the change was not statistically significant. Reducing working hours was associated with short-term improvement in metabolic syndrome in male manual workers.

COVID-19 perceived stigma among survivors: A cross-sectional study of prevalence and predictors

Background and objectivesPerceived stigma related to infectious diseases is of public health importance and can adversely impact patients' physical and mental health. This study aims to identify the level of perceived stigma among COVID-19 survivors in Qatar and investigate its predictors. MethodsAn analytical cross-sectional design was employed. Four hundred and four participants who had a positive COVID-19 PCR test were randomly selected from medical records. The selected participants were interviewed to collect sociodemographic and health-related information. Perceived stigma was assessed using the COVID-19 perceived stigma scale-22 (CPSS-22) that was developed by the researchers. A descriptive analysis followed by a bivariate analysis investigated possible associations between the perceived stigma levels and independent variables. A multivariable analysis was performed using logistic regression to identify any significant associations with perceived stigma. The validity and reliability of the developed tool were also tested. ResultsThe prevalence of COVID-19 perceived stigma was twenty-six percent (n = 107, 26.4%) at 95% CI [22.4–30.4]. Factors associated with higher COVID-19 perceived stigma were male gender, being a manual worker, non-Arabic ethnicity, low educational level, living alone, and being isolated outside the home. However, only occupation, ethnicity, and low educational level predicted COVID-19 perceived stigma in multivariable analysis. The CPSS-22 showed excellent reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.92). ConclusionPerceived stigma was relatively common among participants. Designing programs and interventions targeting male manual workers and those of low-educational levels may assist policymakers in mitigating the stigma related to COVID-19.

Landscape and Work: ‘Placing’ the Experiences of Male Manual Workers in a UK Seaside Town

This article explores the experiences of white, male manual workers in Hastings, East Sussex – a mid-sized UK seaside town that has undergone long-term decline in employment opportunities. Informed by the theoretical insights from Bourdieu, it focuses on the role of place in shaping the employment paths of a group that has arguably been ‘left behind’ by local and global forces. Drawing on broader notions of place as landscape and highlighting the significance of ‘immobility and dependence’, ‘competitive localism and belonging’ and ‘bounded potential’, it examines how landscape conditions are implicated in the meanings given to work experiences, perceived employment opportunities and future aspirations. We argue that incorporating landscape into Bourdieu’s Theory of Practice extends our understanding of landscape’s influence on employment experiences and its unique capacities as both a physical and a socially constructed entity.

Effect of work experience and upper-limb muscle activity on grip strength of manual workers

Objectives. The current study correlated grip strength (GS) measurements with upper-limb muscle activity (UMA) for three different experience levels of manual workers (beginner, intermediate and advanced). Methods. A total of 182 male and female manual workers were chosen, and GS was assessed in some contexts using a digital handgrip dynamometer. Results. The GS values change significantly depending on the amount of experience of the workers. The difference in GS for different UMA demonstrates that continuous exposure to hand tools in different conditions of the hands (twisting, bending, etc.) significantly impacts manual arm strength. Conclusions. These findings suggest that repetitive use of hand tools in various manual operations (cutting, digging, pruning, spading, etc.) causes GS to vary significantly. In addition, beginner experience-level individuals exhibited much lower GS values in the dominant hand, whereas advanced experience-level workers had the greatest strength. Thus, for generating higher forces, professionals (advanced and intermediate levels) choose to execute safer activity (i.e., more neutral positions) than beginners.

A Clinical and Neurophysiological Analysis of Idiopathic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Respect to Gender and Occupation.

Background:Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) predominantly affects women. Previous studies observed more intense symptoms among women without a corresponding increase in disease severity and attributed it to reporting bias. In this study, we examined whether women are inherently more vulnerable to work related median nerve dysfunction at wrist and whether reported CTS symptoms among women correspond to the degree of median neuropathy at wrist.Methods:A cross-sectional study was designed for outpatients (aged 25-59 years) diagnosed with CTS. Occupational categorisation was done based on the analysis of their individual job tasks. Symptom severity (Boston Symptom Severity Scale – SSS), functional disability (Boston Functional Status Scale - FSS), and clinical (Hi – Ob scale) and neurophysiological severity (NCS grade) were determined, compared among occupational groups and were statistically analysed.Results:A total of 454 patients (348 women and 106 men; F: M ratio 3.28:1) were included. Among them, 191 were housewives. Female manual workers and housewives reported significantly more intense symptoms with a corresponding increase in clinical and electrophysiological severity (p < 0.001) when compared to female non-manual workers. However, no significant difference in symptoms, clinical or neurophysiological severity was found between male non-manual and manual workers. Among manual workers, women were more symptomatic than men, but clinical and neurophysiological severities were significantly higher only in the older age groups.Conclusion:The differential vulnerability of the female population to hand-intensive work predisposes them to severe median nerve dysfunction at wrist with proportionately higher CTS symptoms. Therefore, working women need focussed attention for remedial measures.

COVID-19 infection across workplace settings in Qatar: a comparison of COVID-19 positivity rates of screened workers from March 1st until July 31st, 2020

IntroductionCOVID-19 transmission was significant amongst Qatar’s working population during the March–July 2020 outbreak. The study aimed to estimate the risk of exposure for COVID-19 across various workplace settings and demographics in the State of Qatar.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing surveillance data of all workplaces with 10 or more laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19. These workplaces were categorized using a mapping table adapted from the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes, 2017 version. The data was then analyzed to estimate and compare the positivity rate as an indicator of the risk of developing COVID-19 infection across various workplace settings in the State of Qatar.ResultsThe highest positivity rate was reported amongst the Construction & Related (40.0%) and the Retail & Wholesale Trade sectors (40.0%), whereas, the lowest positivity rate was attributed to the healthcare workplace setting (11.0%). The highest incidence of COVID-19 infections occurred in South Asian nationalities and in the male gender. The private funded sector employees have seen higher positivity rate than employees of the governmental funded sector.ConclusionThe elevated risk of infection in Construction and Retail & Wholesale Trade is probably due to environmental and educational vulnerabilities. The predominant labor force of those workplace categories is South Asian craft and male manual workers. Alternatively, the better containment of the healthcare workplace setting can be attributed to the enforcement of infection control and occupational safety measures. These findings imply the importance of using preventive and surveillance strategies for high-risk workplace settings appropriately.

Will Delayed Retirement Affect the Health of Chinese Workers? A Study from the Perspective of Sustainability of Physical Health

This article presents the important research findings of our study on whether delayed retirement will affect the health of Chinese workers from the perspective of sustainability of physical health. The treatment group is those who continue to work after the current statutory retirement age and the control group are those who no longer work after current statutory retirement age, and the physical health of these people is used as a dependent variable. The samples are selected from the following six regions of China: Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Beijing, Zhengzhou, and Shenyang. Quantitative studies of physical health status of the samples are carried out. The study illustrates that for female manual workers who are younger than 63 years old, female non-manual workers who are younger than 66 years old, male manual workers who are younger than 64 years old, and male non-manual workers who are younger than 67 years old, delaying retirement, and continuing to stay in work has no effect on their physical health. After these chronological age stages, however, it has significant impact on their health. These research findings have significant impact and value for the design of China’s delayed retirement policy.

Living and working on the edge: ‘Place precarity’ and the experiences of male manual workers in a U.K. seaside town

AbstractBased on an ethnographic study of male manual workers in Blackpool, a large seaside town in the United Kingdom, and drawing on Bourdieu as a theoretical frame, this article explores the role of place in understanding conditions and experiences of precarity. With higher than average levels of deprivation, seaside towns have experienced particular employment challenges where precariousness is likely to be at the forefront of male manual workers' labour market condition. Results highlight the significance of the interplay between place, employment prospects, geographical ‘constriction’ and dispositions of ‘provisionality,’ which, together, produce ‘uneven geographies’ of labour. We develop the concept of ‘place precarity’ to show how precarity is fundamentally rooted in the spatial context and to capture how conditions and experiences of precarity interact with localised employment conditions.

Clinico-Radiological Profile of Silicosis Patients Presenting at a Tertiary Care Centre of Haryana, India

Objectives: The aim of this study was to study the patients working in stone crushing units presenting with respiratory symptoms for occupational lung disease, silicosis. Patients and Methods: Over a span of 2 years, 176 consecutive new stone crusher workers diagnosed with silicosis were clinically evaluated, including radiological investigations, spirometry, and sputum for acid-fast bacilli. Results: All patients were male manual workers with average age and duration of stone dust exposure of 42.9 years and 20.11 years, respectively; 57 (32.3%) gave a history of smoking; 33% of patients had taken anti-tubercular treatment in the past. However, sputum of none of the patients was found positive for acid-fast bacilli. Only 4 (2.2%) patients mentioned the use of gloves and masks during work shifts. Breathlessness was the most common symptom (92%), followed by cough (61.9%), chest pain (48.3%), expectoration (6.8%), hemoptysis (5.7%), and wheezing (2.8%). Chest radiograms showed opacities-small (up to 10 mm, 57.95%) and large (>10 mm, 17.04%); pleural thickening (97.2%), diaphragmatic thickening (97.2%), and calcifications (71%) etc., Predominant lesions on high-resolution computerized tomography scan of the thorax were mediastinal lymphadenopathy (94.3%), round opacities (90.3%) followed by parenchymal bands (59.1%) and linear opacities (52.8%). On spirometry, 71 (40.3%) patients had findings within the normal limits. Conclusion: It is reiterated that silicosis has severe debilitating effects on the health of subjects, and the situation warrants continuous monitoring.

The association between occupational categories and grip strength in Korean male workers

This study explored the association between occupational categories and muscle strength using handgrip strength (HGS) while considering sociodemographic and health-related factors in Korean men using a national survey. Using cross-sectional data of 8380 men (59.9 ± 16.6years of age), the occupational categories held the longest duration and HGS levels (normal vs. weak) were determined. Logistic regression was applied with adjustment for sociodemographic factors, work-related factors (working hours and schedule), and health-related factors (physical activity, sedentary time, resistance exercise, alcohol consumption, smoking status, chronic illness, subjective health status, weight category, metabolic syndrome, and protein intake). Weak HGS prevalence was lowest in male managerial or professional workers (1.5%) and highest in male skilled agricultural, forestry, fishery, or craft and the related trades workers (16.4%). Compared to male managerial or professional workers, the odds for weak HGS increased in male service/sales workers (OR 2.41; 95% CI 1.45-3.99) and male manual workers [agricultural/forestry/fishery/craft and related trades workers, OR 2.94 (95% CI 1.78-4.83); equipment/machine operating/assembling workers, OR 1.68 (95% CI 1.05-2.71); and elementary workers, OR 3.43 (95% CI 1.95-6.05)] in the fully adjusted model. Regardless of age groups, income, working hours, strength exercise, and sedentary time levels, and chronic illness and metabolic syndrome status, male manual workers were more likely to have weak HGS compared to male non-manual workers. Male manual workers may have a higher risk for weak muscle strength compared to male non-manual workers regardless of sociodemographic, work-related, and health-related factors.

Improving job strain might reduce inequalities in cardiovascular disease mortality in european men.

Unfavorable psychosocial working conditions can lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Lower-occupational groups typically experience unfavorable psychosocial working conditions as compared to higher-occupational groups. We investigate the extent to which CVD mortality inequalities might be reduced if psychosocial working conditions for manual workers are raised to the level experienced by non-manual workers (upward-leveling scenario). We also investigate what would occur if psychosocial working conditions among manual and non-manual workers are raised to better levels as observed in the 'ideal' region (best practice scenario). Individual-level CVD mortality data from 12 European countries were obtained from the EURO-GBD-SE project (1998-2007). Psychosocial working conditions data (i.e. job strain) were extracted from the European Working Conditions Survey (2005) and rate ratios from literature reviews. Population attributable fractions (PAF) and two counterfactual scenarios (namely, upward-leveling scenario and best-practice scenario) were developed to examine employed male non-manual and manual workers. Results appeared to show that CVD mortality might be reduced in men when unfavorable psychosocial working conditions are improved for manual workers (PAF=7.7%, 95% CI: 6.5-10.0). The upward-leveling scenario seems to reduce CVD mortality inequalities for manual workers, by 13-74%. Best-practice scenario shows the largest reduction in CVD mortality in the Baltic region (87 deaths per 100,000 person years). Findings suggest that rendering job strain in manual workers to the level experienced by non-manual workers might substantially reduce CVD mortality inequalities in European men.

Returning to work after a hand injury: Does ethnicity matter?

BackgroundHand injuries (HI) are common and may limit participation in work. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of ethnicity and other prognostic variables on return-to-work (RTW) among male manual workers after acute HI.MethodsA cohort of 178 subjects (90 Arabs, 88 Jews) aged 22 to 65 was studied. Trained bilingual occupational therapists evaluated and interviewed the subjects, using structured validated questionnaires for evaluating personal and environmental factors, body function and structure, and activity limitation and participation restrictions. Employment status 3 months post injury was assessed by a telephone interview. To establish a predictive model for RTW, ethnicity and certain variables of the four domains mentioned above were analyzed using logistic regression analysis.ResultsA significant difference in the rate of RTW between Jews and Arabs was found (45.5% for Jews, 28.9% for Arabs, p = 0.03) three months post HI. In the univariate regression analysis, ethnicity was associated with RTW (OR = 2.05; CI: 1.10–3.81) for Jews vs. Arabs. Using a multivariate analysis, only legal counseling, educational attainment, and the severity of disability were significantly associated with RTW.ConclusionRTW three months post HI among manual workers is directly related to variables such as education and legal counseling and only indirectly related to ethnicity. Patients with a lower level of education and those who were engaged in legal counseling need special attention and close guidance in the process of RTW.

Physical performances show conflicting associations in aged manual workers

Ageing is associated with a decrease in physical performance implying that aged manual workers may be unable to match the physical requirements of their jobs. In this cross-sectional study, 96 male manual workers aged 51–72 years were recruited. Outcomes included handgrip strength (HGS), fat-free mass (FFM), fat percentage, cardiorespiratory fitness (dot{{rm{V}}}O2max), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume after 1 s (FEV1), spinal flexibility, sit-to-stand test performance and static balance. Covariates included height, smoking habits, leisure-time physical activity and systemic inflammation from blood samples. Outcomes were also compared with general populations. Age was negatively related to FFM and FEV1, whereas static balance (velocity of displacement) was positively associated with age. Greater HGS, but poorer dot{{rm{V}}}O2max and FEV1/FEV ratio were found compared with general populations. Age was negatively related with physical performances although a large part of the variance in performance could be explained by factors other than age such as smoking and systemic inflammation. The manual workers had greater muscle strength but had poorer cardiorespiratory fitness and lung function when compared with general populations. Specific health interventions targeting specifically cardiorespiratory fitness, lung function, and balance may be needed to maintain physical performances among manual workers.

On the role of ageing and musculoskeletal pain on dynamic balance in manual workers

The purpose of this study was to explore the interacting effects of age and musculoskeletal pain on balance in manual workers. Ninety male manual workers aged 51–72 yr were recruited and stratified according to lower extremity musculoskeletal pain intensity (pain/no pain) and work status (working/retired). The five-repetition sit-to-stand (STS) test was used to assess lower extremity function including completion time, stand time, sit time and dynamic rate of force development both in the upwards (RFDup) and downwards moving phase (RFDdown). Dynamic balance was expressed as the range, velocity, standard deviation (SD), maximum Lyapunov Exponent and sample entropy of centre of pressure displacement in the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral direction, as well as free moment during the STS test. Except for higher age, no marked differences were seen between working and retired participants. Both age and musculoskeletal pain were negatively associated with motor function. Age × pain interactions showed that completion time, stand time, RFDup and RFDdown were negatively associated with age for participants without pain, but positively for those with pain. Similar findings were seen for dynamic balance. These findings indicate that the effects of lower extremity musculoskeletal pain on lower extremity function and dynamic balance are age dependent.

Working-class entrepreneurialism: Perceptions, aspirations, and experiences of petty entrepreneurship among male manual workers in Turkey

AbstractThis article examines working-class entrepreneurialism in Turkey from a comparative perspective. Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in a working-class neighborhood of İstanbul, the article focuses on the perceptions, aspirations, and entrepreneurial attempts of manual workers employed in formal jobs. It aims to contribute to the understudied literature on working-class entrepreneurialism, which is often overlooked or underestimated by the critical research on labor and the working class. First, the article demonstrates that the level of entrepreneurialism among manual workers is rather high. Alongside revealing the popularity of aspirations for self-employment and the working-class roots of many self-employed individuals, I present an ethnographic account of five workers’ transition from wage work to self-employment. Second, the article finds that a colloquial phrase, “el işi” or “a stranger’s business,” is widely used to refer to wage work. I argue that this phrase perfectly manifests the popular resentment felt toward wage labor in a social milieu where self-employment seems accessible. Finally, by drawing on a review of a scattered set of studies, I claim that entrepreneurialism among working-class men seems to be quite common, especially in peripheral countries.

Trends in Obesity Prevalence by Occupation Based on Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey From 1998 to 2015.

BackgroundIt is well known that the prevalence of obesity in Korea is increasing over time, however it is not known how the trends among occupational groups and sex differ in such increasing trends. This study was designed to provide recent trends of obesity among workers in Korea and to identify whether there were differences among occupational groups.MethodsWe used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Phases I to VI (1998–2015), to analyze trends in the prevalence of obesity in adult Korean workers. Obesity was defined as a body mass index of 25 kg/m2 or higher. Occupations were classified into 3 groups: (a) nonmanual workers, (b) service/sales workers, and (c) manual workers.ResultsDuring the period of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Phases I to VI, the prevalence of obesity in male workers increased in all occupations (31.1% to 39.5% in manual workers, 32.3% to 38.2% in service/sales workers, and 25.3% to 39.7% in manual workers). However, female workers did not show any particular tendency toward obesity, except for a significant decrease in the prevalence rate in service/sales workers (30.8% to 23.9%, p for trend = 0.0048).ConclusionThe trends of obesity prevalence by sex and occupation were different. For male manual workers, the prevalence rate increased steadily during the data period, while it decreased steadily in female sales/service workers.