Habib RR, El-Haddad NW, Elzein K, Hojeij S. Mental and self-rated health of bakery workers in Lebanon: A national study.
SAGE Open Med 2020;
8:2050312120962345. [PMID:
33110603 PMCID:
PMC7564628 DOI:
10.1177/2050312120962345]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives:
The relationship between poverty and health has been well addressed in public
health research. The health effects of social and economic inequalities on
working groups have also drawn the attention of occupational health
scholars. Research addressing workers in low-paying jobs showed increased
risks for poor health. This research examined the psychosocial factors
associated with poor mental health and self-rated health among low-income
bakery workers performing demanding tasks.
Methods:
Face-to-face interviews in 504 randomly selected bakeries in Lebanon provided
data on socio-demographics, perception of the workplace environment, job
security, job satisfaction, general health, and mental health.
Results:
In total, 16.5% of bakery workers reported poor self-rated health, and 45%
reported poor mental health. Workers with a chronic illness were almost
three times more likely to report poor self-rated health (OR = 2.86; 95%
CI = 1.44–5.67), and those with musculoskeletal pain reported poor
self-rated health five times as often (OR = 5.34; 95% CI = 2.9–9.80). Those
with a chronic illness and musculoskeletal pain were twice as likely to
report poor mental health (OR = 1.94; 95% CI = 1.07–3.50 and OR = 2.07; 95%
CI = 1.32–3.23, respectively); and those dissatisfied with their job
reported poorer self-rated health (OR = 2.18; 95% CI = 1.12–4.23) and mental
health (OR = 2.57; 95% CI = 1.54–4.26). In addition, workers reporting job
insecurity had poor mental health twice as often (OR = 1.93; 95%
CI = 1.24–2.99). Low socioeconomic indicators showed a gradient association
with both poor self-rated health and mental health.
Conclusion:
Reporting job dissatisfaction and insecurity, musculoskeletal pain, and
chronic illness were associated with poor mental and self-rated health among
bakery workers. Interventions to improve the working conditions of bakery
workers are timely and essential. This research provided evidence for policy
to guide occupational health practice and safeguard the health of bakery
workers.
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