Tuberculosis and Silicosis Burden in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners in a Large Occupational Health Outreach Programme in Zimbabwe

Dingani Moyo, Christopher Zishiri, Ronald Ncube, Godknows Madziva, Charles Sandy, Reginald Mhene, Nicholas Siziba, Fungai Kavenga, Florence Moyo, Orippa Muzvidziwa, Petronella Ncube, Blessings Chigaraza, Andrew Nyambo and Collins Timire
Additional contact information
Dingani Moyo: Baines Occupational Health Services, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Christopher Zishiri: The Union Zimbabwe Trust, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Ronald Ncube: The Union Zimbabwe Trust, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Godknows Madziva: Baines Occupational Health Services, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Charles Sandy: Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Reginald Mhene: Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Nicholas Siziba: Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Fungai Kavenga: Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Florence Moyo: Baines Occupational Health Services, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Orippa Muzvidziwa: Baines Occupational Health Services, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Petronella Ncube: Baines Occupational Health Services, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Blessings Chigaraza: Baines Occupational Health Services, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Andrew Nyambo: Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Collins Timire: Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare 024, Zimbabwe

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-11

Abstract: Artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs) labour under archaic working conditions and are exposed to high levels of silica dust. Exposure to silica dust has been associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis and silicosis. ASMs are highly mobile and operate in remote areas with near absent access to health services. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of tuberculosis, silicosis and silico-tuberculosis among ASMs in Zimbabwe. A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 October to 31 January 2021 on a convenient sample of 514 self-selected ASMs. We report the results from among those ASMs who attended an outreach medical facility and an occupational health clinic. Data were collected from clinical records using a precoded data proforma. Data variables included demographic (age, sex), clinical details (HIV status, GeneXpert results, outcomes of chest radiographs, history of tuberculosis) and perceived exposure to mine dust. Of the 464 miners screened for silicosis, 52 (11.2%) were diagnosed with silicosis, while 17 (4.0%) of 422 ASMs were diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB). Of the 373 ASMs tested for HIV, 90 (23.5%) were sero-positive. An HIV infection was associated with a diagnosis of silicosis. There is need for a comprehensive occupational health service package, including TB and silicosis surveillance, for ASMs in Zimbabwe. These are preliminary and limited findings, needing confirmation by more comprehensive studies.

Keywords: tuberculosis; silico-tuberculosis; silicosis; artisanal miners (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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