Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Self-Rated Morbidities Among South Asian Migrant Gas Station Workers in Kuwait

Abstract

Gas station workers (GSWs) are at elevated risk of morbidities associated with exposure to petrochemical substances. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence and examined demographics and occupation-related risk factors associated with self-rated ill-health among GSWs in Kuwait. Structured questionnaire was used to record self-rated ill-health from 460 selected GSWs of South-Asian origin. Prevalence of self-rated ill-health conditions was computed. Random-intercept multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify the demographics and/or work-place related potential risk factors associated with one or more morbidities. Prevalent morbidities were eye(s) complaint (45.2%), asthma/shortness of breath (7.6%), frequent sneezing and allergic rhinitis (44.3%), recurrent headache (48.3%), dizziness (9.8%), tremors (42%), and eczema/skin complaint (44.1%). Furthermore, GSWs were significantly more likely to report one or more ill-health conditions (vs. none), if they were overweight/obese (aOR 1.8; 95% CI 1.1-2.9), married (aOR 2.6; 95% CI 1.5-4.5) or on current job for more than one year (aOR 6.4; 95% CI 2.9-15.4). In conclusion, GSWs suffer from ailments of multiple organ systems and need education and facilitation for self-protection.

Construction of a nomogram for predicting the risk of allergic rhinitis among employees of long‐distance bus stations in China

“…A long‐distance bus station generally includes a station hall, a platform, and other areas. Except for the outdoor platform, the remainder of the space is a typical indoor area, which has the risk of inducing architecture‐related diseases 23‐28 . We were focused on the relationship between indoor environmental factors of long‐distance bus stations and AR of their employees.…”

“…Except for the outdoor platform, the remainder of the space is a typical indoor area, which has the risk of inducing architecture-related diseases. [23][24][25][26][27][28] We were focused on the relationship between indoor environmental factors of long-distance bus stations and AR of their employees. The indoor spaces of 226 long-distance bus stations, each having a total area of more than 1000 m 2 , were considered as the study objects.…”

Human Fungal Infections in Kuwait—Burden and Diagnostic Gaps

“…Khadadah et al showed that the prevalence of asthma was 15% among Kuwaiti adults (93,923), the figure we have used, and 18% among children (70,158) [ 38 ]. The prevalence of asthma (actually shortness of breath assumed to be asthma) among immigrants is much lower, as described by Al-ayyadhi—around 7.6% [ 39 ]. We have therefore estimated the total asthma prevalence to be about 315,473 adults or 9.5% of the adult population overall.…”

Migrant workers occupational health research: an OMEGA-NET working group position paper

“…The term “migrant worker” has also been used to refer to natives moving within a large ethnically and culturally diverse country, perhaps from the countryside to the town (Al-Ayyadhi and Akhtar 2018 ; Fan and Qian 2017 ; Zeng et al 2014 ). Such internal migrants may or may not experience language and cultural differences; however, if they do, they would be in a comparable situation to many international migrants (Bergbom and Vartia 2021 ).…”