You are using an outdated browser. For a faster, safer browsing experience, upgrade for free today.

Occupational morbidity in Ukraine during wartime: challenges in detection and epidemiological analysis

Occupational morbidity in Ukraine during wartime: challenges in detection and epidemiological analysis

ISSN 2223-6775 Ukrainian journal of occupational health Vol.19, No 3, 2023


https://doi.org/10.33573/ujoh2023.03.167

Occupational morbidity in Ukraine during wartime: challenges in detection and epidemiological analysis

Nagorna A.M.
State Institution «Kundiiev Institute of Occupational Health of National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine», Kyiv


 Full article (PDF): ENG / UKR

Introduction: The detection of occupational morbidity (OM) remains a significant concern, particularly amid periods of military conflicts and major socio-economic transformations. Emphasis on organizing OM detection becomes paramount in the backdrop of substantial population displacement.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the distinctive aspects of detecting occupational morbidity during times of war within a country.

Materials and Methods: The quantification of occupational morbidity cases is based on a comprehensive statistical sampling approach using primary data encompassing all newly registered instances in Ukraine during the year 2022. This dataset includes vital information on occupation, gender, age, working conditions, circumstances, and disease etiology. Statistical processing followed established methods of sanitary statistics and descriptive epidemiological analysis.

Results: Findings reveal a 12.8% reduction in detected cases of occupational morbidity during wartime, translating to 1.0-1.6 occurrences per 10,000 workers in comparison to the pre-war period. This decrease is attributed to significant population displacement, reduction in the labor pool due to enlistment into the Armed Forces of Ukraine and territorial defense units. The pronounced reduction in cases of occupational morbidity is particularly evident in the Donetsk region (23.9% decrease) and Dnipropetrovsk region (18.9% decrease). This suggests a noticeable decline in the incidence of occupational diseases among workers engaged in enterprises located near combat zones or temporarily occupied territories that were previously hubs for extractive and processing industries (e.g., coal, metallurgy, machinery manufacturing).

Conclusions: During times of military operations in Ukraine, the identification of occupational morbidity cases experienced a 12.8% downturn, largely attributed to population displacement, enterprise closures or relocations, diminished job prospects, compromised medical services for workers, dwindling occupational pathology resources, a prevailing trend of self-preservation leading to delayed referrals to occupational specialists. The quality of preventive medical examinations suffered due to staffing challenges in medical commissions, lack of specialized experts, and deficient instrumental and laboratory resources.

Keywords: detection of occupational diseases, martial law, preventive medical.

References

  1. WHO/ILO: Almost 2 million people die from work-related causes each year. UN News [Internet]. 2021 Sept 17 [cited 2023 June 07]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/17-09-2021-who-ilo-almost-2-million-people-die-from-work-related-causes-each-year.
  2. World Health Organization and International Labour Organization. WHO/ILO joint estimates of the work-related burden of disease and injury, 2000-2016: technical report with data sources and methods. [Internet]. WHO and ILO; 2021 [cited 2023 Jan 25]. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/345241.
  3. Prüss-Ustün A, Wolf J, Corvalán C, Boss R, Neira M. Preventing disease through healthy environments: a global assessment of the burden of disease from environmental risks. [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2016 [cited 2023 Jan05]. Available from: https://edisciplinas.usp.br/pluginfile.php/4222870/mod_resource/content/1/9789241565196_eng.pdf.
  4. Levchuk NM. [Health and life expectancy in Ukraine in the context of innovative employment]. Demography and social economy. 2017;1(29):54-65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/dse2017.01.054. Ukrainian.
  5. [Economic efficiency vs social justice: development priorities of Ukraine at the stage of overcoming the crisis: col. Monogr.]. Kyiv: National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; 2019. 350 p. ISBN 978-966-02-8900-6. Ukrainian.
  6. Dzyuba OM, Pazynych LM, Sitenko OR, Kryven YeM. [The actual questions of global burden of diseases in Ukraine]. Bulletin of Social Hygiene and Health Protection Organization of Ukraine. 2017;2:814. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11603/1681-2786.2017.2.8101. Ukrainian.
  7. Nagorna AM. [Occupational morbidity in Ukraine during the COVID-19 pandemic: an epidemiological analysis]. Ukrainian Journal of Occupational Health. 2022;18(1):12-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33573/ujoh2022.01.012. Ukrainian.
  8. Recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease: council of Global Unions Statement [Internet]. 2020 Apr 27 [cited 2023 Jun07]. Available from: https://www.itfseafarers.org/en/news/recognition-covid-19-occupational-disease.
  9. Nahorna AM. [Medico-social and demographic characteristics of the formation of occupational morbidity in Ukraine in the pre-war period and during martial law]. Ukrainian Journal of Occupational Health. 2022;18(3):171-80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33573/ujoh2022.03.171. Ukrainian.