[The relationship between health and job quitting in female workers of the electronics assembly industry in Tijuana].
OBJECTIVE
To examine the health, labor and social factors which contribute to quitting work in two transnational electronic parts factories in Tijuana, Mexico.


METHODS
A cohort study of 725 women employed either at a Japanese or an American electronic parts factory in Tijuana was performed between January 1992 and March 1994. The sample was stratified in two time intervals < or = 30 or > 30 days of work. Follow up was continued until quitting or end of the observation period, by recollecting data regarding health, social and occupational variables from different logs and reports provided by the employer. Reasons for quitting and accuracy of data obtained from logs and reports were evaluated through a follow up interview applied to 46% (n = 148) of the women who had quit, and were located approximately 12 months after ceasing to work (SD = 6.7).


RESULTS
The estimated cumulative probabilities of quitting were 67% during the first year and 81% during the second. Newcomers to the work force, a day shift and the company is nationality were predictors the of quitting within 30 days. Smoking, surgical antecedents and paid leave due to illness were predictors for quitting after 30 days. In contrast, quitting rate after 30 days was lower in women with a history of chronic disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Quitting work is high and selective among workers female electronic factories. While occupational factors are associated with workers quitting early, health factors are stronger predictors for quitting after 30 days.
Guendelman
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S
School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, USA. sylviag@uclink4.berkeley.edu
Samuels
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Ramírez-Zetina
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M
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D004581:Electronics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008800:Mexico; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014478:Unemployment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health; D014931:Women, Working / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000078329:Workforce