妊娠意愿与孕中晚期妊娠相关焦虑关联的队列研究

目的 探讨妊娠意愿与孕中、晚期妊娠相关焦虑关联及其强度。方法 在马鞍山优生优育队列（MABC）中，将孕周≤ 14周、符合纳入标准的3 474名孕妇纳入队列。在首次产检时收集孕妇的一般人口学信息，并在孕中期和孕晚期收集妊娠相关焦虑量表。采用logistic回归分析妊娠意愿对孕中期和孕晚期妊娠相关焦虑的影响。结果 最终3 083人纳入分析，意外妊娠检出率为15.00%（n=461）。孕中期和孕晚期妊娠相关焦虑检出率分别为29.13%（n=898）、30.36%（n=936）。控制潜在的混杂因素后，与有充分思想准备的孕妇相比，意外妊娠的孕妇孕中期出现妊娠相关焦虑的风险增加（OR=1.85，95%CI：1.44~2.38）；孕晚期出现妊娠相关焦虑的风险也增加（OR=1.84，95%CI：1.44~2.35）；顺其自然怀孕的孕妇在孕中、晚期未增加妊娠相关焦虑发生风险。结论 意外妊娠是孕中、晚期妊娠相关焦虑危险因素。     

抗病毒治疗HIV感染者神经认知损伤与认知表现特征研究

目的 联合应用两种神经认知评价量表,探讨接受抗病毒治疗（ART）的HIV感染者神经认知损伤患病率、影响因素及其神经认知表现特征。方法 纳入浙江省台州市开展的HIV与衰老相关疾病前瞻性队列研究中2 250例接受ART的HIV感染者。使用中国版简易智能精神状态检查量表（MMSE）和国际HIV相关性痴呆量表（IHDS）评价其神经认知损伤情况,并对2个量表中的7个神经认知域进行聚类分析。结果 在接受ART的HIV感染者2 250例中,年龄集中在45~89岁（48.0%,1 080/2 250）,男性占79.2%（1 782/2 250）,小学及以下文化程度者占37.8%（852/2 250）。MMSE和IHDS判断的神经认知损伤的患病率分别为14.3%（321/2 250）和31.8%（716/2 250）。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,HIV感染者MMSE判断的神经认知损伤危险因素包括60~89岁（aOR=2.63,95%CI：1.52~4.56）、抑郁症状（aOR=5.58,95%CI：4.20~7.40）和使用依非韦伦（EFV）治疗（aOR=2.86,95%CI：1.89~4.34）;男性（aOR=0.71,95%CI：0.51~1.00）、偏胖（aOR=0.63,95%CI：0.44~0.89）和文化程度较高（aOR=0.11,95%CI：0.05~0.25）为保护因素。IHDS判断的神经认知损伤危险因素包括60~89岁（aOR=3.10,95%CI：2.09~4.59）、抑郁症状（aOR=1.78,95%CI：1.44~2.20）和使用EFV治疗（aOR=1.79,95%CI：1.41~2.29）;男性（aOR=0.75,95%CI：0.58~0.97）、偏瘦（aOR=0.67,95%CI：0.47~0.96）、基线CD4⁺T淋巴细胞（CD4）计数≥350个/μl（aOR=0.69,95%CI：0.53~0.91）和文化程度较高（aOR=0.23,95%CI：0.14~0.39）是保护因素。HIV感染者的神经认知表现分为4种主要类型,在年龄、性别、文化程度、饮酒、抑郁症状、腰臀比、高血压病史、糖尿病病史、基线CD4计数和使用EFV治疗的差异有统计学意义（均P < 0.05）。结论 接受ART的HIV感染者神经认知表现分为4种类型,神经认知损伤患病率较高,需对不同类型者采取针对性的监测、预防与控制措施。     

江苏省心血管病高危人群颈动脉斑块流行及影响因素分析

目的 了解颈动脉斑块（CP）在江苏省心血管病高危人群中的流行概况及相关影响因素。方法 2015-2016年依托中国心血管病高危人群早期筛查与综合干预项目,以江苏省6个项目点筛查出的11 392名心血管病高危人群作为研究对象,进行问卷调查、身体测量、实验室检测以及颈动脉彩色超声检测,探讨CP的流行概况,对CP发生的影响因素进行多因素logistic回归分析。结果 研究对象年龄为（59.4±8.9）岁,男性4 821例（42.3%）。颈动脉异常5 971例（52.4%）,其中颈动脉内中膜增厚1 782例（15.6%）,CP 3 811例（33.5%）,颈动脉狭窄378例（3.3%）。高龄（OR=2.253,95%CI：2.127~2.386）、城市居民（OR=2.622,95%CI：2.375~2.895）、高血压（OR=1.439,95%CI：1.195~1.732）、吸烟（OR=1.441,95%CI：1.259~1.650）、脉压差增大（OR=1.270,95%CI：1.198~1.347）、FPG升高（OR=1.109,95%CI：1.059~1.161）、LDL-C/HDL-C升高（OR=1.225,95%CI：1.164~1.288）增加心血管病高危人群发生CP的风险,女性（OR=0.558,95%CI：0.494~0.630）、高BMI（OR=0.948,95%CI：0.904~0.994）、较高的文化程度（OR=0.708,95%CI：0.531~0.945）和较高的家庭年收入（OR=0.773,95%CI：0.669~0.894）则降低其风险。结论 江苏省超一半心血管病高危人群颈动脉异常,高血压、高血糖、高血脂和吸烟是相关影响因素。     

妊娠期并发贫血影响因素的巢式病例对照研究

目的 探讨妊娠期并发贫血的影响因素。方法 将2013年6月至2014年11月在湖南省浏阳市医疗机构接受首次孕期保健,且经体检排除"贫血"的孕妇（怀孕≤ 12周）纳入孕妇人群队列,对观察对象进行基线调查,并随访至孕妇分娩。采用前瞻性巢式病例对照研究,将本次随访期间新发生贫血的380例孕妇作为病例组,按照1：2频数匹配,随机抽取年龄、孕期、常住地基本相同的760例正常孕产妇作为对照组,采用t检验、χ²检验和条件logistic回归分析方法,分析妊娠期并发贫血的影响因素。结果 多因素logistic回归模型分析结果表明,家庭人均年收入低（OR=2.08,95%CI：1.22~3.59）、文化程度低（OR=2.09,95%CI：1.22~3.59）、孕前烫发/染发（OR=2.23,95%CI：1.63~3.05）、早孕呕吐反应（OR=2.51,95%CI：1.56~4.03）是妊娠期并发贫血的危险因素;摄入维生素、微量元素补充剂（OR=0.69,95%CI：0.50~0.94）,肉、鱼、虾、蛋类摄入频率高（OR=0.68,95%CI：0.49~0.92）,豆奶、牛奶摄入频率高（OR=0.51,95%CI：0.27~0.95）是妊娠期并发贫血的保护因素。结论 妊娠期并发贫血与孕妇家庭经济、文化程度、有毒有害物质接触、早孕呕吐反应、营养物质的摄入等因素有关,应加强对孕妇妊娠期发生贫血影响因素的控制。     

吉林省居民中心性肥胖及其前期流行特征的影响因素分析

目的 了解吉林省居民中心性肥胖及其前期的流行特征的影响因素,为制定相关预防与控制策略及措施提供参考依据。方法 本研究以2017-2018年吉林省心血管病高危人群早期筛查与综合干预项目为基础,纳入吉林省6个项目点35~75岁常住居民11 903人为研究对象,进行体格检查、实验室检测和问卷调查。采用χ²检验、趋势χ²检验、F检验计算不同特征人群和健康指标的中心性肥胖及其前期情况,其影响因素采用多因素logistic回归模型分析。结果 吉林省居民中心性肥胖率为33.35%（3 970/11 903）,标化率为31.73%,中心性肥胖前期率为28.79%（3 427/11 903）,标化率为28.86%。多因素分析结果显示,农村居民（OR=1.99,95%CI：1.78~2.23）、女性（OR=1.76,95%CI：1.57~1.97）、65~75岁组（OR=1.21,95%CI：1.03~1.45）、高中/中专文化程度（OR=1.38,95%CI：1.17~1.63）、家庭年收入>10万元（OR=1.65,95%CI：1.20~2.26）、超重（OR=9.27,95%CI：8.26~10.41）、肥胖（OR=82.82,95%CI：62.63~109.52）、正常高值血压（OR=1.49,95%CI：1.27~1.74）、高血压（OR=1.70,95%CI：1.42~2.04）、糖尿病（OR=2.30,95%CI：1.94~2.73）、血脂异常（OR=1.33,95%CI：1.18~1.50）与中心性肥胖及其前期发生风险呈正相关。结论 吉林省居民中心性肥胖及其前期率均处于较高水平,农村居民、女性、年龄大、高中/中专文化程度、高收入、超重、肥胖、正常高值血压、高血压、糖尿病、血脂异常是吉林省居民中心性肥胖及其前期的危险因素。     

苏州市社区建成环境与居民体力活动的关联分析

目的 了解苏州市居民体力活动水平,探索社区建成环境与居民体力活动的关联。方法 2017年采用多阶段整群随机抽样方法抽取苏州市25~64岁常住人群进行面对面调查,采用国际体力活动量表长卷（IPAQ-L）评估居民体力活动水平,采用居民环境步行量表简表（NEWS-A）评价社区建成环境主观感知。结果 苏州市居民过去1周总体力活动水平M=3 610.42 MET-min/w,以工作相关体力活动水平为主,交通、家务及休闲相关体力活动水平较低。控制社会人口学因素后,公共服务可及性与社区居民的总体力活动水平呈负相关（OR=0.522,95%CI：0.329~0.830）,场所设施多样性与工作相关体力活动水平呈负相关（OR=0.701,95%CI：0.492~0.999）,步行和自行车道设施与工作相关体力活动水平呈正相关（OR=1.603,95%CI：1.004~2.559）;交通安全与交通相关体力活动水平呈负相关（OR=0.642,95%CI：0.416~0.990）;住宅密度与休闲相关体力活动水平呈正相关（OR=1.001,95%CI：1.000~1.002）;此外,社区美观与舒适的主观感知程度越高,工作、交通、家务及总体力活动水平越高（OR=1.889,95%CI：1.176~3.033;OR=1.671,95%CI：1.120~2.495;OR=1.775,95%CI：1.143~2.756;OR=1.593,95%CI：1.079~2.350）。结论 完善步行道和自行车道设施、提高社区的美观和舒适程度对于增加居民体力活动有重要作用。     

2015年我国35岁及以上高血压患者社区健康管理与高血压治疗控制情况分析

目的 了解2015年我国≥ 35岁高血压患者的社区健康管理及高血压治疗控制情况并探索其影响因素。方法 利用2015年中国成人慢性病与营养监测项目收集的问卷调查及体格测量等信息,以乡镇卫生院（社区卫生服务中心）或以上级别医疗卫生机构医生诊断为高血压的≥ 35岁的患者为研究对象,对样本进行复杂加权后,分析其一般特征、高血压社区健康管理情况及高血压治疗控制情况。结果 共纳入高血压患者23 974名,经复杂加权后,我国≥ 35岁高血压患者的社区健康管理率为54.10%（95%CI：51.02%~57.17%）,社区规范管理率为45.72%（95%CI：42.93%~48.51%）;高血压治疗率为88.16%（95%CI：87.00%~89.31%）,控制率为22.67%（95%CI：21.25%~24.09%）,治疗控制率为27.76%（95%CI：26.09%~29.42%）。多因素分析结果显示,城市和农村年龄≥ 65岁（OR=1.40,95%CI：1.05~1.87;OR=3.11,95%CI：2.22~4.36）、按医嘱服药（OR=2.15,95%CI：1.46~3.15;OR=1.35,95%CI：1.13~1.62）、进行血压监测（OR=2.34,95%CI：1.88~2.90;OR=3.10,95%CI：2.72~3.53）的高血压患者更愿意接受高血压社区健康管理;文化程度大专及以上（OR=0.51,95%CI：0.39~0.66）、适量饮酒（OR=0.69,95%CI：0.57~0.84）或过量饮酒（OR=0.73,95%CI：0.58~0.92）的城市高血压患者接受社区高血压管理的情况不佳。城市和农村超重（OR=0.74,95%CI：0.61~0.91;OR=0.83,95%CI：0.71~0.98）、肥胖（OR=0.54,95%CI：0.45~0.65;OR=0.67,95%CI：0.54~0.83）的高血压患者血压控制情况较差,按医嘱服药（OR=4.58,95%CI：3.16~6.63;OR=2.84,95%CI：2.18~3.69）的高血压患者的血压控制状况较好。地处中部（OR=0.74,95%CI：0.61~0.89）、过量饮酒（OR=0.72,95%CI：0.54~0.97）的城市高血压患者血压控制情况较差,合并其他慢性疾病（OR=1.22,95%CI：1.04~1.44）、参加高血压社区规范管理（OR=1.29,95%CI：1.06~1.58）的城市高血压患者血压控制情况较好;地处中、西部地区（OR=0.71,95%CI：0.58~0.87;OR=0.62,95%CI：0.47~0.80）、适量饮酒（OR=0.81,95%CI：0.67~0.98）、人均每日食盐摄入量>6 g （OR=0.80,95%CI：0.69~0.93）的农村高血压患者血压控制情况较差,进行血压监测（OR=1.38,95%CI：1.18~1.61）的农村高血压患者血压控制情况较好。结论 我国≥ 35岁高血压患者社区健康管理情况较之前有所改善,但是高血压控制情况距离相关政策指标还有一定差距。     

儿童家长预防接种后留观时间及其相关因素分析

目的 分析儿童家长预防接种后留观时间及其相关因素。方法 2019年12月至2020年1月,选取我国6个省份（山东省、广东省、河南省、四川省、内蒙古自治区和辽宁省）12个县（区）34个预防接种门诊,采用分阶段抽样方法招募预防接种0~3岁儿童家长,开展问卷调查。采用多因素logistic回归模型分析儿童家长预防接种后留观时间的相关因素。采用SAS 9.4软件进行统计学分析。结果 共招募0~3岁儿童家长3 292名,符合标准的研究对象为3 178名。儿童家长预防接种后正确留观时间≥30 min的比例为87.85%（2 792/3 178）。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,影响儿童家长预防接种后留观时间的主要因素分别为预防接种工作人员正确告知家长留观时间≥30 min（OR=31.622,95%CI：19.847~50.384）、家长职业为医护人员（OR=2.779,95%CI：1.505~5.133）、参加预防接种宣传教育活动（OR=1.986,95%CI：1.438~2.743）、家长年龄≥35岁（OR=1.900,95%CI：1.215~2.971）、胎次为第1胎（OR=1.663,95%CI：1.282~2.156）、家庭人均年收入为8 000~元（OR=1.646,95%CI：1.168~2.319）、儿童年龄为0~12月龄（OR=1.646,95%CI：1.203~2.252）和13~24月龄（OR=1.506,95%CI：1.064~2.133）、信任预防接种工作人员的预防接种建议（OR=1.481,95%CI：1.067~2.055）。结论 儿童家长预防接种后正确留观时间≥30 min的比例较高。预防接种工作人员正确告知家长留观时间的影响最大。     

中国2014年新报告HIV感染者与配偶离异或分居情况及其相关因素分析

目的 分析HIV感染者与配偶离异或分居情况及相关因素。方法 收集国家艾滋病综合防治信息系统2014年新报告、年满18周岁且已婚有配偶的HIV感染者的信息,根据确证阳性后1年内配偶变化情况分为“离异或分居”和“已婚有配偶”。应用logistic回归分析感染者与配偶离异或分居的相关因素。结果 共有31 708个已婚有配偶HIV感染者纳入分析,有22.5%（7 134/31 708）确证阳性后1年内离异或分居。81.6%（25 864/31 708）感染者的配偶1年内进行了HIV抗体检测,其中10.0%（2 599/25 864）离异或分居;18.4%（5 844/31 708）感染者的配偶1年内未进行HIV抗体检测,其中有77.6%（4 535/5 844）离异或分居。多因素logistic回归分析显示,配偶未检测的感染者中,≥46岁（46~岁：OR=1.28,95%CI：1.03~1.58;61~岁：OR=1.83,95%CI： 1.41~2.37）、汉族（OR=1.56,95%CI：1.34~1.83）、高中及以上文化程度（OR=1.55,95%CI：1.27~1.90）、非农民或民工（OR=1.34,95%CI：1.17~1.54）、注射吸毒（OR=1.33,95%CI：1.03~1.71）和同性传播途径感染（OR=1.49,95%CI：1.20~1.86）、无子女（OR=2.35,95%CI：1.78~3.09）,离异或分居的比例较高。配偶已检测的感染者中,≥61岁（OR=1.32,95%CI：1.12~1.56）、汉族（OR=1.27,95%CI：1.13~1.44）、高中及以上文化程度（OR=1.26,95%CI：1.11~1.43）、非农民或民工（OR=1.37,95%CI：1.25~1.51）、同性传播途径感染（OR=1.38,95%CI：1.25~1.54）、无子女（OR=1.48,95%CI：1.27~1.71）,离异或分居的比例较高。结论 我国已婚有配偶HIV感染者确证阳性后存在一定比例的离异或分居,不同特征的感染者确证阳性后离异或分居的比例不同,为减少已发现感染者的传播,需要采取针对性的干预措施。     

成年人睡眠状况与糖尿病患病关系的研究

目的 探讨成年人睡眠状况与糖尿病患病关系。方法 利用“中国慢性病前瞻性研究”苏州市项目点53 260名30~79岁常住居民基线调查数据,通过多因素logistic回归模型分析睡眠状况与糖尿病患病关系。结果 调查人群糖尿病患病率为5.3%,入睡困难、容易早醒和经常打鼾的比例分别为7.2%、10.0%和29.5%,22.6%的调查对象报告睡眠时间≤6 h。经多因素模型调整后,入睡困难（男性：OR=1.63,95%CI：1.30~2.05;女性：OR=1.48,95%CI：1.27~1.73）、容易早醒（男性：OR=1.37,95%CI：1.12~1.68;女性：OR=1.31,95%CI：1.14~1.51）和经常打鼾（男性：OR=1.16,95%CI：1.00~1.34;女性：OR=1.39,95%CI：1.23~1.57）均与糖尿病罹患风险存在关联。女性服用助眠药物与糖尿病的患病相关（OR=1.42,95%CI：1.06~1.92）。与睡眠时间8 h相比,睡眠时间不足（≤6 h）与男女性糖尿病患病均存在统计学关联,OR值分别为1.37（95%CI：1.17~1.60）和1.24（95%CI：1.08~1.41）,睡眠时间过长（≥9 h）与糖尿病未见统计学关联。结论 睡眠问题（入睡困难、容易早醒、药物助眠、经常打鼾和睡眠时间不足）与糖尿病患病风险密切相关,睡眠时间过长与糖尿病患病未见统计学关联。     

The human drama of genetics: 'hard' and 'soft' media representations of inherited breast cancer

This paper examines media coverage of 'breast cancer genetics', and explores its implications for public understanding. We present a content analysis of coverage in British newspapers and look at a variety of popular forms, including women's magazines, television soap opera and radio drama. Genetic/inherited risk receives a great deal of coverage across a wide range of media formats and outlets. Much of this attention has focused on individuals from 'high risk families' and dilemmas around prophylactic mastectomies. Through examining media coverage, combined with interviews with media personnel and their sources, we show why this story proved so attractive to the media and highlight the different production values which influence coverage. Finally, we introduce preliminary findings from focus group discussions to demonstrate how such 'human interest' framing has engaged audience attention and influenced public understandings. The paper concludes by highlighting the implications for analysing, predicting, and engaging with, media representations of science.     

The occurrence of antimicrobial substances in toilet,sink and shower drainpipes of clinical units: A neglected source of antibiotic residues

Antibiotics represent one of the most important drug groups used in the management of bacterial infections in humans and animals. Due to the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance, assurance of the antibacterial effectiveness of these substances has moved into the focus of public health. The reduction in antibiotic residues in wastewater and the environment may play a decisive role in the development of increasing rates of antibiotic resistance. The present study examines the wastewater of 31 patient rooms of various German clinics for possible residues of antibiotics, as well as the wastewater of five private households as a reference.To the best of our knowledge, this study shows for the first time that in hospitals with high antibiotic consumption rates, residues of these drugs can be regularly detected in toilets, sink siphons and shower drains at concentrations ranging from 0.02?μg·L^?1 to a maximum of 79?mg·L^?1. After complete flushing of the wastewater siphons, antibiotics are no longer detectable, but after temporal stagnation, the concentration of the active substances in the water phases of respective siphons increases again, suggesting that antibiotics persist through the washing process in biofilms. This study demonstrates that clinical wastewater systems offer further possibilities for the optimization of antibiotic resistance surveillance.     

Worker education in the primary prevention of occupational dermatoses

This paper reports the evaluation of a skin care education programmeconducted on a fine chemicals manufacturing site where over1,000 employees are located. Approximately 60% are involvedin chemical manufacture. Over a 12 month period production staffreceived training in prevention of occupational dermatoses linkedto a site-wide poster initiative. The incidence of new casesof occupational dermatoses fell from 0.055 (70 cases in 1,277employees) to 0.021 (27 cases in 1,277 employees) before andafter the intervention respectively (p<0.0001). After otherfactors such as chemicals handled, observer bias and changesin reporting related to socioeconomic climate were taken intoaccount it is concluded that this study demonstrates the importanceof worker education as a tool for primary prevention of disease.Training materials such as video and poster presentations maybe effectively used in the chemical manufacturing industry asan adjunct to prevention and control of exposure to substanceshazardous to the skin. Such methods may also be used in otherindustries where there are significant risks of dermatoses.     

Regional Variation in Travel-related Illness acquired in Africa,March 1997–May 2011

To understand geographic variation in travel-related illness acquired in distinct African regions, we used the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network database to analyze records for 16,893 ill travelers returning from Africa over a 14-year period. Travelers to northern Africa most commonly reported gastrointestinal illnesses and dog bites. Febrile illnesses were more common in travelers returning from sub-Saharan countries. Eleven travelers died, 9 of malaria; these deaths occurred mainly among male business travelers to sub-Saharan Africa. The profile of illness varied substantially by region: malaria predominated in travelers returning from Central and Western Africa; schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, and dengue from Eastern and Western Africa; and loaisis from Central Africa. There were few reports of vaccine-preventable infections, HIV infection, and tuberculosis. Geographic profiling of illness acquired during travel to Africa guides targeted pretravel advice, expedites diagnosis in ill returning travelers, and may influence destination choices in tourism.     

Self-reported health problems among Swedish miners one year after unemployment

Unemployment is considered to be a public health concern sincedeterioration in the health of the unemployed is often anticipated.However, for some groups, such as miners, unemployment mightimprove health due to a cessation of potentially harmful occupationalexposures. This study evaluates the health of 79 miners in oneSwedish iron-ore mine, and 226 age-matched controls from thegeneral population, during one year after the closure of themine. The participants received a questionnaire regarding medicalhistory and subjective symptoms at the beginning of the studyperiod, and after one year. Statistically significant negativeeffects on self-reported health attributable to unemploymentwere not found, although neuropsychiatric symptoms were morecommon among the unemployed miners. The miners reported a statisticallysignificant improvement in grip force (p=0.031). They had asignificantly higher prevalence of symptoms associated withmining related exposures when compared with the population controls;pain in the upper extremities [relative risk (RR)=2.27, 95%confidence interval (Cl)=1.44–3.59), back pain (RR=1.84;Cl=1.237–2.75), vasospastic disease of the fingers (RR=2.05;Cl=1.18–3.57) and obstructive respiratory symptoms (attacksof dyspnea and wheezing: RR=3.67; Cl=1.167–11.6).     

Excès de cas humains et animaux de tularémie en France au cours de l’hiver 2007–2008 : émergence ou phénomène isolé ?

Context

Tularemia is a zoonosis affecting humans and hares in France. We describe the results of surveillance in both species, in 2007 and 2008.

Methods

Human tularemia cases are mandatorily notifiable in France since 2003. In hares, surveillance relies on volunteer hunter associations in all districts of the country. Data from mandatory reports and volunteer surveillance in 2007/2008 were analyzed and compared with previous results.

Results

In 2007/2008, 144 cases were reported in humans and 117 cases in hares. This was a 100% increase compared to previous years. Human cases differed from those of previous years only by the frequency of contact with breeding animals. Human cases without any documented risk exposure were also more frequent.

Conclusion

An increase of tularemia cases occurred in 2007/2008 in both species. Complementary studies are needed to identify the species reservoir in France to understand the causes of this peak of cases.     

Fatigue and health in a seafaring population

Background Occupational fatigue is relatively common withinthe general population and has been linked to reduced performance,injury and longer term ill-health. Despite growing acknowledgementof this problem in the maritime sector, little research hasbeen conducted into the risk factors, prevalence and consequencesof seafarers' fatigue. Aims To examine the prevalence of fatigue among seafarers, identifypotential risk factors and assess possible links with poor performanceand ill-health. Methods Cross-sectional questionnaire survey of seafarers workingin the offshore oil support, short-sea and deep-sea shippingindustries. A number of tools were used including the fatiguesubscale of the profile of fatigue-related symptoms, the CognitiveFailures Questionnaire, the General Health Questionnaire andthe SF36 General Health scale. Results In all, 1855 questionnaires were completed giving anoverall response rate of 20%. Fatigue symptoms were associatedwith a range of occupational and environmental factors, manyunique to seafaring. Reporting a greater number of risk factorswas associated with greater fatigue [e.g. OR = 2.53 (1.90–3.35)for those with three or four risk factors and OR = 9.54 (6.95–13.09)for those with five or more risk factors]. There was also astrong link between fatigue and poorer cognitive and healthoutcomes, with fatigue the most important of a number of riskfactors, accounting for 10–14% of the variance. Conclusions Seafarers' fatigue could impact on safety withinthe industry and may be linked to longer term individual ill-health.It can only be addressed by considering how multiple factorscombine to contribute to fatigue.     

The design of hazard risk assessment matrices for ranking occupational health risks and their application in mining and minerals processing

Two hazard risk assessment matrices for the ranking of occupational health risks are described. The qualitative matrix uses qualitative measures of probability and consequence to determine risk assessment codes for hazard-disease combinations. A walk-through survey of an underground metalliferous mine and concentrator is used to demonstrate how the qualitative matrix can be applied to determine priorities for the control of occupational health hazards. The semi-quantitative matrix uses attributable risk as a quantitative measure of probability and uses qualitative measures of consequence. A practical application of this matrix is the determination of occupational health priorities using existing epidemiological studies. Calculated attributable risks from epidemiological studies of hazard-disease combinations in mining and minerals processing are used as examples. These historic response data do not reflect the risks associated with current exposures. A method using current exposure data, known exposure-response relationships and the semi-quantitative matrix is proposed for more accurate and current risk rankings.     

Occupational health hazards in mining: an overview

This review article outlines the physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial occupational health hazards of mining and associated metallurgical processes. Mining remains an important industrial sector in many parts of the world and although substantial progress has been made in the control of occupational health hazards, there remains room for further risk reduction. This applies particularly to traumatic injury hazards, ergonomic hazards and noise. Vigilance is also required to ensure exposures to coal dust and crystalline silica remain effectively controlled.