Gas station workers (GSWs) are at elevated risk of morbidities associated with exposure to petrochemical substances. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence and examined demographics and occupation-related risk factors associated with self-rated ill-health among GSWs in Kuwait. Structured questionnaire was used to record self-rated ill-health from 460 selected GSWs of South-Asian origin. Prevalence of self-rated ill-health conditions was computed. Random-intercept multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify the demographics and/or work-place related potential risk factors associated with one or more morbidities. Prevalent morbidities were eye(s) complaint (45.2%), asthma/shortness of breath (7.6%), frequent sneezing and allergic rhinitis (44.3%), recurrent headache (48.3%), dizziness (9.8%), tremors (42%), and eczema/skin complaint (44.1%). Furthermore, GSWs were significantly more likely to report one or more ill-health conditions (vs. none), if they were overweight/obese (aOR 1.8; 95% CI 1.1–2.9), married (aOR 2.6; 95% CI 1.5–4.5) or on current job for more than one year (aOR 6.4; 95% CI 2.9–15.4). In conclusion, GSWs suffer from ailments of multiple organ systems and need education and facilitation for self-protection. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Kuwait Epidemiologic study Occupational hazards Self-rated morbidities Gas station workers

occupational disease human epidemiology skin disease Health Behavior Self Report Respiratory Tract Diseases statistics and numerical data Asia Overweight Fuel Oils neurologic disease health status Eye Diseases obesity Asia, Western Logistic Models fuel oil Occupational Diseases eye disease Kuwait respiratory tract disease ethnology Skin Diseases Nervous System Diseases Cross-Sectional Studies cross-sectional study Humans smoking male Socioeconomic Factors risk factor Risk Factors socioeconomics prevalence adult migration statistical model occupational health Transients and Migrants