The Morbidity Patterns among Industrial Workers in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan-Region: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The industry is one of the Kurdistan region’s largest and most influential sectors. The number of workers in industrial factories increased by an average of 61.4% in 2019 compared to 2018. However, industrial workers are exposed to  numerous risks in the workplace, which may have adverse effects on their health and increase the incidence of diseases among workers. AIM: The aim of this study is to identify patterns of morbidity among industrial workers in Sulaymaniyah industries, as well as to find the relationship between disease patterns and some of the sociodemographic data of the study sample. METHODS: A worker-based and cross-sectional study was conducted among ten large-scale industries. The ten participating factories have over  900-line workers. Three hundred were selected using Epi Info™ software. The correct number of employees per factory was determined using a proportionate method, and then the employees were chosen on purpose. The workers were interviewed using a developed questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics methods (Chi-square test). RESULTS: Morbidity was noticed among 55.3% of participating workers. About 32.3% of the workers were found to be overweight, making it the most common health condition. Obesity came in second at 8%, then musculoskeletal problems at 3.7%. About 2.7% had vision problems. Younger age groups, who had worked in the industry for fewer years, showed lower percentages of morbidity patterns among them. CONCLUSION: Industry workers must be aware of occupational health and safety measures to protect themselves from workplace hazards and reduce disease incidence.