BACKGROUND In 1998, a major HIV intervention project was started in a mining community in Carletonville, South Africa. This included community-based peer education, condom distribution, syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections (STI), and presumptive STI treatment for sex workers. OBJECTIVES To investigate changes in sexual behaviour and the prevalence of STI before and 2 years ...

BACKGROUND Occupational injuries cause major health problems, which the developed, developing, and underdeveloped nations worldwide are facing today. The present study aimed to assess dental caries, periodontal health of stone mine workers, and the relationship between wasting diseases and the years of working experience. METHODS The study population comprised 510 men, selected based on the s...

In adults, high-level lead exposure often occurs in the lead-related industries. Acute lead poisoning has become rare, but chronic exposure to low-level lead remains a public health issue. With recent advances in our understanding of lead toxicity at low-levels, researchers have shifted their focus to studying lead at concentrations below those currently recommended as ‘acceptable’ in worker pr...

Responsibility was mine The decision to part with my baby girl was the most difficult one I have ever had to make. It took months of talking to myself at night, soul-searching and much heartache, until I arrived at my decision. Of course, welfare workers, almoners and the adoption society made every effort to help, to advise and so on, but the ultimate responsibility was mine and mine alone. If...

INTRODUCTION Injury rate among mining workers in Zimbabwe was 789/1000 workers in 2008. The proportion of severe occupational injuries increased from 18% in 2008 to 37% in 2009. We investigated factors associated with severe injuries at the mine. METHODS An unmatched 1:1 case-control study was carried out at the mine, a case was any worker who suffered severe occupational injury at the mine a...

The estimated average daily employment in the Indian mining sector is 5,60,000, which comprises 87% in the public sector and 13% in the private sector, of which around 70,000 are working in metallic mines. The mine workers are exposed to dust of various potentially toxic substances. The common toxicants present in the mining environment are lead, mercury, cadmium, manganese, aluminium, fluoride...

background: the workers of mines, during a working day, are exposed to stress and psychological pressure that certainly affect the efficiency of their work. this study aimed to determine the level of stress, anxiety, and depression in workers of one copper mine in kerman province, iran. materials and methods: in this cross-sectional study, 250 workers of the operation unit of one copper mine in...

OBJECTIVES Asbestos is associated with South African diamond mines due to the nature of kimberlite and the location of the diamond mines in relation to asbestos deposits. Very little is known about the health risks in the diamond mining industry. The objective of this study was to explore the possibility of asbestos exposure during the process of diamond mining. METHODS Scanning electron micr...