PubMed · 749303
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R H Martin. 1978. DOFASCO employee assistance program.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/749303/
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The objective of this study was to investigate the spatial distribution of respiratory morbidity and asthma in children in relation to high levels of airborne dust pollution. A cross-sectional survey of 2035 children (aged 5-11 yr) by parent-completed questionnaire, with concurrent monitoring of dust deposition rates in the vicinity of children's homes, was performed in 15 primary schools (5 in each of 3 areas of Merseyside). The main outcome measures were (1) doctor-diagnosed asthma, (2) parent-reported respiratory symptoms of recent excess cough, wheeze, and breathlessness, and (3) school absenteeism due to respiratory ill health. Proximity to the source of dust pollution was associated with increased prevalence of excess cough, breathlessness, school absence due to respiratory ill health, and doctor-diagnosed asthma, after adjusting for a range of socioeconomic, environmental, and other confounding factors. The adjusted odds for excess cough and breathlessness for children living within 2 km of the source (dock area) are estimated to be almost twice those for children living more than 2 km away: excess cough 1.9 (95% CI 1.4-2.6); breathlessness 1.9 (1.3-2.7); school absence 1.5 (1.2-1.9); and doctor-diagnosed asthma 1.5 (1.1-2.0). Excess cough was significantly associated with the mean annual dust deposition recorded in the vicinity of the child's home. The adjusted odds ratio for excess cough corresponding to an increase in mean annual dust deposition of 50 mg/m2/d was 3.1 (95% CI 1.1-8.2). These results suggest that airborne dust was associated with respiratory morbidity in these children, which could relate to the high prevalence of childhood doctor-diagnosed asthma in this community.
STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective population study. OBJECTIVES: To explore whether the increase in social benefits for pregnant women introduced in Sweden between 1978 and in 1986 was associated with a decrease in the use of sick leave caused by back pain during the same period. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Back pain is a common condition among Swedish pregnant women. It may be regarded as a normal discomfort of pregnancy, because at least 50% of pregnant women experience back pain to some extent during pregnancy. METHODS: Participants were women consecutively delivered in 1978 (n = 1524) and in 1986 (n = 1688). Between these two time points, the number of offered days of parental benefit increased and a new benefit, the pregnancy benefit, was introduced. Data were collected from the antenatal care and delivery records and from pregnant women's social insurance files. RESULTS: From 1978 to 1986 the use of sick leave because of back pain during pregnancy increased. The number of pregnant women granted sick leave employed pregnant women because of back pain increased from 11% in 1978 to 29% in 1986 (P < 0.001). The sick leave rate increased in most occupations and especially among young women. CONCLUSIONS: The Swedish society has provided ample social benefits to allow the pregnant woman to take leave from work, without having to be labeled as "ill," because of normal conditions such as back pain during pregnancy. Instead of an expected decrease in sick leave because of back pain during pregnancy, an increase was observed.