Health-related quality of life (EQ-5D + C) among people living in artisanal and small-scale gold mining areas in Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background In Zimbabwe, an estimated 500,000 people work in the sector of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). Two million Zimbabweans are dependent on this sector. Using mercury is common to extract gold from ore. Long term exposure to mercury can cause various adverse health cond...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Health and Quality of Life Outcomes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12955-020-01530-w |
| _version_ | 1828777849411076096 |
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| author | Friederike-Marie Butscher Stefan Rakete Myriam Tobollik Viola Mambrey Dingani Moyo Dennis Shoko Shamiso Muteti-Fana Nadine Steckling-Muschack Stephan Bose-O’Reilly |
| author_facet | Friederike-Marie Butscher Stefan Rakete Myriam Tobollik Viola Mambrey Dingani Moyo Dennis Shoko Shamiso Muteti-Fana Nadine Steckling-Muschack Stephan Bose-O’Reilly |
| author_sort | Friederike-Marie Butscher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In Zimbabwe, an estimated 500,000 people work in the sector of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). Two million Zimbabweans are dependent on this sector. Using mercury is common to extract gold from ore. Long term exposure to mercury can cause various adverse health conditions including chronic mercury intoxication. The influence of these adverse health effects on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is still unknown. The aim of this study is to assess the HRQoL of people who identify themselves as miners, and to analyze potential influencing factors, such as age, years of working with mercury and health conditions caused by mercury exposure. Methods This cross-sectional study assessed the HRQoL using the standardized EQ-5D + C (3 L) questionnaire and collected human specimens (blood, urine) of people living and possibly working in ASGM areas in Zimbabwe. Factors such as age, years of working with mercury and adverse health conditions possibly caused by mercury exposure were analyzed with regards to their influence on the HRQoL. Results The 207 participants (82% male, mean age 38 years) reported 40 different health states. Of the study participants 42.5% reported to be in complete good health while 57.5% reported being unwell in different ways. Nine participants (4.3%) were identified with chronic mercury intoxication, whereas 92 participants (33.3%) had mercury levels above the “Alert” threshold in at least one specimen. Having chronic mercury intoxication has a significant negative influence on the HRQoL, when taking into account age, gender and years of working with mercury. Cognitive problems were the most reported in the questionnaire, however, the association between this domain separately and the HRQoL was not verified. Conclusion This study shows that adverse health effects caused by chronic exposure to mercury, have a negative influence on the HRQoL among people living in ASGM areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T16:28:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8a9fd5747c3d4136b633ecfeb6146614 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1477-7525 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T16:28:44Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health and Quality of Life Outcomes |
| spelling | doaj.art-8a9fd5747c3d4136b633ecfeb61466142022-12-22T00:58:38ZengBMCHealth and Quality of Life Outcomes1477-75252020-08-0118111310.1186/s12955-020-01530-wHealth-related quality of life (EQ-5D + C) among people living in artisanal and small-scale gold mining areas in Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional studyFriederike-Marie Butscher0Stefan Rakete1Myriam Tobollik2Viola Mambrey3Dingani Moyo4Dennis Shoko5Shamiso Muteti-Fana6Nadine Steckling-Muschack7Stephan Bose-O’Reilly8Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology - IBE, LMU MunichDepartment of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of MunichInstitute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital MunichInstitute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology - IBE, LMU MunichSection exposure assessment and health indicators, German Environment AgencyMidlands State University, Faculty of Medicine & Faculty of Social SciencesTailjet Consultancy ServicesDepartment of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of MunichDepartment of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of MunichAbstract Background In Zimbabwe, an estimated 500,000 people work in the sector of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). Two million Zimbabweans are dependent on this sector. Using mercury is common to extract gold from ore. Long term exposure to mercury can cause various adverse health conditions including chronic mercury intoxication. The influence of these adverse health effects on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is still unknown. The aim of this study is to assess the HRQoL of people who identify themselves as miners, and to analyze potential influencing factors, such as age, years of working with mercury and health conditions caused by mercury exposure. Methods This cross-sectional study assessed the HRQoL using the standardized EQ-5D + C (3 L) questionnaire and collected human specimens (blood, urine) of people living and possibly working in ASGM areas in Zimbabwe. Factors such as age, years of working with mercury and adverse health conditions possibly caused by mercury exposure were analyzed with regards to their influence on the HRQoL. Results The 207 participants (82% male, mean age 38 years) reported 40 different health states. Of the study participants 42.5% reported to be in complete good health while 57.5% reported being unwell in different ways. Nine participants (4.3%) were identified with chronic mercury intoxication, whereas 92 participants (33.3%) had mercury levels above the “Alert” threshold in at least one specimen. Having chronic mercury intoxication has a significant negative influence on the HRQoL, when taking into account age, gender and years of working with mercury. Cognitive problems were the most reported in the questionnaire, however, the association between this domain separately and the HRQoL was not verified. Conclusion This study shows that adverse health effects caused by chronic exposure to mercury, have a negative influence on the HRQoL among people living in ASGM areas.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12955-020-01530-wHealth-related quality of life (HRQoL)EuroQol (EQ)Visual analogue scaleArtisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM)MercuryMercury intoxication |
| spellingShingle | Friederike-Marie Butscher Stefan Rakete Myriam Tobollik Viola Mambrey Dingani Moyo Dennis Shoko Shamiso Muteti-Fana Nadine Steckling-Muschack Stephan Bose-O’Reilly Health-related quality of life (EQ-5D + C) among people living in artisanal and small-scale gold mining areas in Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional study Health and Quality of Life Outcomes Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) EuroQol (EQ) Visual analogue scale Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) Mercury Mercury intoxication |
| title | Health-related quality of life (EQ-5D + C) among people living in artisanal and small-scale gold mining areas in Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Health-related quality of life (EQ-5D + C) among people living in artisanal and small-scale gold mining areas in Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Health-related quality of life (EQ-5D + C) among people living in artisanal and small-scale gold mining areas in Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health-related quality of life (EQ-5D + C) among people living in artisanal and small-scale gold mining areas in Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Health-related quality of life (EQ-5D + C) among people living in artisanal and small-scale gold mining areas in Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | health related quality of life eq 5d c among people living in artisanal and small scale gold mining areas in zimbabwe a cross sectional study |
| topic | Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) EuroQol (EQ) Visual analogue scale Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) Mercury Mercury intoxication |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12955-020-01530-w |
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