[Epidemiology of brucellosis in the Granada province (I). Occupational risks].

BACKGROUND

Brucellosis is a health problem in the Granada province. The major aim of the present study was to evaluate the professional risk to acquire brucellosis in Granada.

METHODS

An epidemiologic study where the cases of brucellosis were found by active search was carried out. The study period was the year 1984. The patients (overall 804) were investigated in their residence area with a questionnaire where the major risk factors were considered.

RESULTS

The disease was more common in males than in females (RR = 3); it had a significant tendency to increase with decreasing sizes of the urban nucleus (chi MH = 16.9, p less than 0.0001); and it had a significant relationship with the proportion of peasants and cattle workers in the region (r = 0.66, p less than 0.05). The professional group with the highest risk were veterinaries, in whom the disease was 31 times more common than in the rest of the population.

CONCLUSIONS

Emphasis is made, in addition to other points, on the need to increase health education in the groups of more affected professionals.