International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume 16, Issue 17, 2019

Migration,work, and health: Lessons learned from a clinical case series in a Northern Italy public hospital (Article) (Open Access)

Arici C.* , Tamhid T. , Porru S.
  • a Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Occupational Health, University of Verona, Verona, 37134, Italy, University Research Center “Integrated Models for Prevention and Protection in Environmental and Occupational Health”, Universities of Verona, Brescia and Milano BicoccaVerona 37134, Italy
  • b Postgraduate School of Occupational Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, 37134, Italy
  • c Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Occupational Health, University of Verona, Verona, 37134, Italy, University Research Center “Integrated Models for Prevention and Protection in Environmental and Occupational Health”, Universities of Verona, Brescia and Milano BicoccaVerona 37134, Italy

Abstract

Background: Migrant workers (MWs) generally perform dangerous jobs and have reduced access to occupational health (OH) care, therefore being prone to developing occupational diseases (OD). The aim of the work is to describe a case series of MWs and report on related outcomes for OH professionals. Methods: A case series of 724 MWs, sent from January 2001 to June 2013 to a public OH unit for OD or fitness-for-work (FFW) evaluation, was entered in a dedicated database and elaborated for descriptive statistics with Microsoft Excel. Results: MWs were mostly (75%) men, with a mean age of 40. They came mainly from Morocco, Senegal, Albania, Romania, and Pakistan. Main sectors of employment were manufacturing, metal industry, services, construction. OD were found in 210 cases, main diagnoses being: Lumbar disc and upper limb musculoskeletal disorders (51%), contact dermatitis (15%), allergic asthma (8%), noise-induced hearing loss (7%), tumors (3%), psychiatric disorders (2%). Moreover, 136 FFW judgements were formulated, with some limitations/restrictions expressed. Finally, a relevant prevalence of some chronic non-occupational diseases was found. Conclusions: MWs in Italy may suffer from OH inequalities. Qualified public OH professionals and occupational physicians in workplaces should have a proactive role to concretely meet MWs’ health needs. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Author Keywords

Clinical case series Fitness for work Health surveillance Italy occupational health services Occupational diseases Migrant workers

Index Keywords

Pakistan Romania Albania arm disease noise injury neoplasm metal industry building industry contact dermatitis human controlled study chronic disease manufacturing industry mental disease migrant worker Senegal workplace male female occupational exposure hospital sector health services public hospital prevalence Article major clinical study adult migration case study health worker Italy occupational health lumbar disk hernia employment allergic asthma health monitoring Morocco health practitioner
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85071442548&doi=10.3390%2fijerph16173007&partnerID=40&md5=6060a7b2c56cc8223b668cedc813fae0
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16173007
ISSN: 16617827
Original Language: English