[Absenteeism due to occupational diseases among sugarcane workers]

Cad Saude Publica. 2014 Oct;30(10):2169-76. doi: 10.1590/0102-311x00026413.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of work-related sick leave in sugarcane workers. A total of 1,230 medical excuses for 400 sugarcane workers were analyzed according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10). The following items were analyzed: diagnosis, sex, and length and season of sick leave. In all the seasons, musculoskeletal diseases showed the highest sick leave rate, following by respiratory diseases (p < 0.05). Sick leave due to musculoskeletal diseases was more frequent at the end of the sugarcane harvest than during the intercrop season (p < 0.05). Seventy-five percent of medical excuses were for one day. The longest sick leaves were for diseases of the genitourinary tract (p < 0.001). It is thus essential to have a multidisciplinary health team focused on the development of ergonomic activities, personal protective equipment, and health orientation specifically targeting this group's needs.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absenteeism*
  • Agricultural Workers' Diseases / classification
  • Agricultural Workers' Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Crops, Agricultural
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Saccharum
  • Sick Leave
  • Time Factors