Situation of workers’ diseases of some public services in Ho Chi Minh city in 2014

In order to have an overview about the tendency of disease structure of street sweepers, the Sub- Institute of  Labour and Environment Protection in the South conducted a study to clarify diseases that these workers often suffer and based on this to help company to arrange reasonable  jobs, improve working environment and guarantee workers’ rights and benefits. In addition, this is an initial step to help investors to continue to study the work-related diseases that street sweepers may suffer.

2.  The content and methodology of  the study

2.1.The target and scope of the study: health records of workers at municipal environmental companies in 2014 including 10  public service units in Ho Chi Minh city (HCMC).

2.2. The content of study: Generally studying the health situation of workers at public service company in HCMC by reviewing their health records of the year 2014.

2.3. Methodology: Analyzing statistics of health situation of workers at public service company in HCMC by reviewing their health records in 2014. The data then processed by Microsoft Excell 2010.

3. Results

3.1. Clinical result of periodic health examination of workers in 2014

3.1.1 Special diseases:

– Skin disease: 63 cases among1042 health exams occupied 6.05%;  02 cases of male street sweepers  accounted for 3.17% of pathological number and 01 case of female street sweepers accounted for 1.59% of pathological number;

– Eye disease: 692 cases among 1.502 health exams, accounted for 46.07% including 211 of male street sweepers  (30.49%) and 157 of female street sweepers  (22.69%). Refractive error accounted for a large percent, 525 cases among 1.502 health exams (34,95%) including 188 of male street sweepers  (35.81%) and 150 of female street sweepers  (28.57%);

– Blood pressure: the pathology of high blood pressure was recorded. 198 cases among 1503 health exams, accounted for 12.91% including 32 of male street sweepers  (16.49%) and 20 of female street sweepers  (10.31%);

The clinical examination results in 2014 showed that the group of street sweepers  occupied high percent of eye disease, there was no significant difference between male and female, p < 0.05. Hypertension had the same percent and no different significant between two groups of male and female, p < 0,05.

3.1.2 Musculoskeletal diseases:

Results from reviewing data showed that:

– 16 cases of degenerative joint disease among 446 health exams (3.15%). All 16 cases were street sweepers including 05 male street sweepers (31.25%) and 09 female street sweepers  (56.25%).

– Data on spinal degeneration and thoracic spine pain were the same as degenerative joint disease. Although there is few cases but most of them belonged to street sweepers. There are 02 cases of thoracic spine pain of female street sweepers ; among 04 cases of spinal degeneration, 2/4 of male street sweepers  and 1/4 of female street sweepers  .

– Bone fracture: 15 cases among 1.191 health exams including 7/15 street sweepers  (05 male accounted for 33.33%  and 02 female accounted for 13.33%).

3.1.3 Gynaecological disease (specifically for female)

– By using ultrasonic technique there has been found 35 cases among 296 health exams including 23 cases  of  female street sweepers  . There are 13 cases of ovarian cyst, 10 of  them belong to female street sweepers  (76.92%). Uterine fibroids were found in 10 cases among 296 health exams, 04 cases of female street sweepers  (accounted for 40%).

3.1.4 Para-clinical results of periodic health examination of workers in 2014

– Blood glucose tests showed that 113 cases among 1.753 health exams have problem with blood sugar (accounted for 6.05%) including 44 cases of male street sweepers  (accounted for 38.94 %) and 18 cases of female street sweepers  (accounted for 15.93%).

– Urea creatinine for kidney function tests showed that 418 cases have unusual indicator of  BUN/creatinine (accounted for 29.44%) including 72 cases of male street sweepers  (accounted for 17.22%) and 33 cases of female street sweepers  (accounted for 7.89%).

– Bilan lipid tests showed that 418 cases had problem with Bilan lipid among 1.306 health exams (accounted for 32.01%) including 140 cases of male street sweepers  (accounted for 33.39%) and 48 cases of female street sweepers  (accounted for 11.48%).

–  Liver enzyme tests showed that 288 cases had pathological signs among 1.425 health exams (accounted for 20.21%) including 96 cases of male street sweepers  (accounted for 33.33%) and 21 cases of female street sweepers  (accounted for 7.29%).

–  Screening for gout showed that 40 cases had pathological signs among 183 health exams (accounted for 21.86%) including 20 cases of male street sweepers  (accounted for 50%) and no cases for female street sweepers  (accounted for 0%).

–  General urine analysis showed that 87 cases had pathological signs among 961 health exams (accounted for 9.05%)  including 6 cases of male street sweepers  (accounted for 6.9%) and 46 cases for female street sweepers (accounted for 52.87%).

–  HbsAg test for hepatitis B showed that 87 cases had pathological signs among 1.021 health exams (accounted for 8.52%)  including 43 cases of male street sweepers  (accounted for 49.43%) and 09 cases for female street sweepers  (accounted for 10.43%).

3.1.5 Results of digital X-ray for heart and lung functions

The result of digital X-ray for heart and lung functions showed that most of pathology of lung concentrated on street sweepers  as the results from reviewing data of  2012-13. Namely, 30 cases of pulmonary fibrosis  among 1.303 health exams including 16 cases of male street sweepers  or 20 cases of tuberculosis among 905 health exams, 12 cases belonged to male street sweepers  or 10 cases suspected as tuberculosis among  1.138 health exams and must be monitored closely in treatment, 05 cases of male street sweepers , accounted for 50% of pathological signs. The numbers of female street sweepers  suffered from pulmonary disease were less than those of male and this difference only had the statistical significance (p < 0.05).

Reviewing data of  2014 showed no cases of pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia  or cardiac silhouette in group of female workers.

3.1.6  Results of Ultrasound

The results of ultrasound showed some health problems of street sweepers  as follows:

– 14 cases of  cystic kidney disease among 1.303 health exams, accounted for 1.07%;  in which 09 cases, accounted for 64.29% , of male street sweepers; no female  street sweeper  was found to suffer from the disease. 

– The percent of  workers having fatty liver disease was quite high. 191 cases had this pathological signs among 1.303 health exams; including 40 cases of  male street sweepers,  accounted for 20.94% and 25 cases of female street sweepers, accounted for 13.09 %.

–  The percent of workers having gallstones  accounted for 1.46%, 19 cases among 1.303 health exams including 04 cases of male street sweepers and 01 case of female street sweepers accounted for 21.05% and 5.26% respectively;

–  The percent of workers having kidney stones accounted for  2.76%,  36 cases among 1.303 health exams including 06 cases of male workers and 06 cases of female workers, accounted for the same percent as 16.67%.

– 10 cases of cardiovascular disease had been found among 691 health exams; including 07 cases belonged to  male street sweepers,  accounted for 70% and no cases of female street sweepers had been found.

– From breast ultrasound results found out 37 cases having pathological signs  among 197 women health exams; of which 26 cases belonged to female street sweepers,  accounted for 70.27%.

4.  Conclusion

Reviewing general health exam statistics of  public service companies in HCMC in 2014 showed that the tendency of popular diseases were eye diseases, respiratory diseases, joint and musculoskeletal diseases, hepatitis B and fatty liver disease. Among them, eye disease accounted for 46.07%  of which male street sweepers occupied 30.49%  and female street sweepers held 22.69%. Refractive error accounted for a large percent of 34.95%; including 35.81%, of male street sweepers  and  28.57%  of female street sweepers . Workers had fatty liver accounted for 14.66% including 20.94% of male street sweepers and 13.09% of female street sweepers. The result of clinical exams gives the overall tendency that percent of diseases of street sweepers in male was higher than that of female.

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Ngo Thi Mai, Pham Thai Kim Vy

The National Institute of Labour Protection

(Source: nilp.vn)