Factors associated with self-rated health among mineworkers in Zambia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background This study aims to examine miners’ working conditions and self-rated health status in copper mines in Zambia and to identify conditions and factors necessary to improve the safety and health of mineworkers. Methods A self-administered questionnaire was conducted anonymously among copper mineworkers in Zambia in 2015 and 2016. Results In total, 285 of 330 responses were analyzed. Regular employees had better working conditions, including higher incomes (t-test, P = 0.011), guaranteed paid holidays (chi-square test, P = 0.045), health check-ups (chi-square test, P = 0.023) and sickness insurance (chi-square test, P < 0.001), than contract employees. Mineworkers’ increased self-rated health was determined by an educational status of having completed secondary school (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.406; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.072, 10.822; P = 0.038). Moreover, job category, such as working underground (AOR: 0.338; 95% CI: 0.173, 0.663; P = 0.002), and having experienced violence (AOR: 0.472; 95% CI: 0.035, 0.948; P = 0.035) were negatively associated with good self-rated health in the logistic regression analysis, regardless of employment status. Conclusions Among mineworkers in Zambia, non-underground work and not having experienced violence from their boss contributed to increased self-rated health. From the perspective of psychological safety and human security, the management of safety and the working environment, including human resource management and preventing harassment/violence, should be assured, especially for underground mineworkers.