Prevalence and associated factors to rural occupational accidents, Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency of rural occupational accidents and its association with potential risk factors. METHODS: The study was carried out in a urban area of Pelotas, RS, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted. A representative sample of rural workers was selected using a multi-stage sampling. From January to April 1996, a total of 258 rural families were visited and all the 580 rural workers identified in those households answered a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of rural occupational accidents was 11%. After allowing for potential confounders, the main occupational hazards, as shown by logistic regression, were lower socioeconomic status (OR=1.81), non-white skin color (OR=3.50), and poor work satisfaction (OR=2.77).