Exposure to occupational health hazards among Zambian workers.

BACKGROUND: Data on occupational safety and health in Southern Africa are scant. Hence the negative impact of poor working conditions is unknown and the scientific basis for interventions and policy formulation is lacking. AIMS: To determine the prevalence of, and factors associated with, exposure to occupational health hazards in Zambia. METHODS: We used data collected in the 2009 National Labour Force Survey. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were used to measure magnitudes of associations. RESULTS: Exposure to occupational hazards among the 64 119 respondents (response rate = 78%) included vibration from hand tools or machinery (3%), temperatures that make one perspire even when not working (4%), low temperatures whether indoors or outdoors (4%), smoke, fume, powder or dust inhalation (13%), pesticides (3%), noise so loud that voice had to be raised to talk to people (4%), chemical handling or skin contact (3%) and exposure to heavy object lifting, frequent bending of the back or rapid movement of limbs causing body pain (30%). In multivariate analysis, exposure to occupational health hazards was associated with older age, male sex, low educational level, being married/cohabiting and not being self-employed. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study indicate that Zambian workers are exposed to a broad range of occupational health hazards. This could be useful for the formulation of a multi-sector approach aimed at the prevention and control of hazard exposure.

A Review of HIV and Surgery in Africa.

HIV has a significant impact on surgery in Africa. Its' influence has spanned a period of about 30 years. In the 1980s' Africa experienced a rise in the national prevalence of HIV spreading across East Africa through Southern Africa, and reaching peak prevalence in the Southern African region. These prevalence levels have affected four key areas of surgical practice; namely patient care, practice of surgery, surgical pathologies, the practitioner and more recently prevention. The surgical patient is more likely to be HIV positive in Africa, than elsewhere in the world. The patients are also more likely to have co infection with Hepatitis C or B and are unlikely to be aware of his or her HIV status. Surgical patients are also more likely to have impaired liver and renal function at the time of presentation. Therefore, HIV has affected the pattern of surgical pathologies, by influencing disease presentation, diagnosis, management and outcomes. It has also influenced the surgeon by increasing occupational risk and management of that risk. Recently in an ironic change of roles, surgery has impacted HIV prevention through the role of male circumcision as a significant tool in HIV prevention, which has traditionally focused on behavioural interventions. The story of surgery and HIV continues to unfold on the continent. Ultimately presenting a challenge which requires innovation, dedication and hard work in the already resource limited environments of Africa.

Management of empyema thoracis at Lusaka, Zambia.

Of the 39 consecutive patients with empyema thoracis managed by one of the five general surgical units at Lusaka, Zambia, 26 suffered from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and 19 were diagnosed as suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis within 3 years of developing empyema thoracis. Thirty patients were between 16 and 40 years of age; of these, 22 suffered from acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and all 19 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis belonged to this age group. Of the four patients with empyema thoracis in the age group of 0-5 years, two were suffering from AIDS. The majority of cases of empyema thoracis associated with AIDS present insidiously and, because of late presentation, rib resection is necessary. After surgery these patients were managed at home with the help of a home care team, thus reducing the burden on hospital resources. The morbidity and mortality rates in these patients are higher than in those in whom empyema thoracis is not associated with AIDS.

PIP: Surgeons managed the care of 39 patients with empyema thoracis at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia between April 1989-March 1990. 33 patients were males. 26 (23 males and 3 females) tested seropositive for HIV and had AIDS. 19 patients (17 male and 2 females) had tuberculosis (TB) of the lungs. Only 2 did not test positive for HIV. The leading complaints of the 39 patients were cough (30), chest pain (29), and generalized lymphadenopathy (28). HIV positive patients stayed in the hospital longer than HIV negative patients (60 days vs. 5 days). Most patients with empyema thoracis (30) were between 16-40 years old, as were AIDS patients (22) and TB patients (19). 2 of the 4 0-5 year old patients with empyema thoracis suffered from AIDS. The leading surgical procedure for the patients with empyema thoracis was intercostal drainage (12). All 12 patients who underwent rib resection were those who suffered from AIDS. Rib resection was required because these patients presented to the hospital late at which time the aspirate had already become thick. The surgeons were able to aspirate the accumulated pus quite easily in 8 of the 9 patients with AIDS who underwent only intercostal drainage. 8 AIDS patients experienced dried up sinuses at 8 weeks. A home care team managed the rib resection patients at home which resulted in a shorter mean duration at the hospital than for intercostal drainage (8 days vs. 0 days). None of the AIDS patients died from the procedure. Yet 3 AIDS patients died within 2 weeks of entry into the hospital. 5 other AIDS patients died within 6 months of their 1st admission. All HIV negative patients recovered satisfactorily. Home care minimized the burden on hospital resources.