Baines Occupational Health Services, Harare 024, Zimbabwe.
Occupational Health Division, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct 24;19(21):13822. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192113822.
Artisanal and small-scale mining is characterized by an excessive exposure to silica-containing dust, overcrowding, poor living conditions and limited access to primary health services. This poses a risk to tuberculosis, HIV infection and silicosis. The main purpose of the study is to evaluate the burden of tuberculosis, HIV and silicosis among artisanal and small-scale miners. We conducted a cross sectional study on 3821 artisanal and small-scale miners. We found a high burden of silicosis (19%), tuberculosis (6.8%) and HIV (18%) in a relatively young population, with the mean age of 35.5 years. Men were 1.8 times more likely to be diagnosed with silicosis compared to women, adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR = 1.75 (95% CI: 1.02-2.74)]. Artisanal and small-scale miners who were living with HIV were 1.25 times more likely to be diagnosed with silicosis compared to those who were negative, [aPR = 1.25 (1.00-1.57)]. The risk of silicosis increased with both duration as a miner and severity of exposure to silica dust. The risk of tuberculosis increased with the duration as a miner. Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a high burden of TB, silicosis and HIV among artisanal and small-scale miners. Multi-sectoral and innovative interventions are required to stem this triple epidemic in Zimbabwe.
个体采矿业的特点是过度暴露于含硅尘，过度拥挤，生活条件差，获得基本卫生服务的机会有限。这给结核病、艾滋病毒感染和矽肺带来了风险。本研究的主要目的是评估个体采矿业矿工中结核病、艾滋病毒和矽肺的负担。我们对 3821 名个体采矿业矿工进行了横断面研究。我们发现，在相对年轻的人群中，矽肺（19%）、结核病（6.8%）和艾滋病毒（18%）的负担很高，平均年龄为 35.5 岁。与女性相比，男性患矽肺的可能性高出 1.8 倍，调整后的患病率比[aPR = 1.75（95%CI：1.02-2.74）]。与未感染艾滋病毒的矿工相比，感染艾滋病毒的个体采矿业矿工患矽肺的可能性高出 1.25 倍[aPR = 1.25（1.00-1.57）]。矽肺的风险随着矿工的工作年限和接触矽尘的严重程度而增加。结核病的风险随着矿工的工作年限而增加。津巴布韦目前正面临个体采矿业矿工中结核病、矽肺和艾滋病毒负担高的问题。需要采取多部门和创新干预措施来遏制津巴布韦的这三重疫情。
