title: [An investigation of reproductive health and related influencing factors in female staff in six industries in seven provinces in China].
abstract: Objective:To investigate the reproductive health status in female staff, and to develop labor protection strategies for female staff.Methods:From May to November, 2015, cluster sampling was performed in the industries of medicine and health, petrochemical engineering, metallurgy, railway, mechanical manufacturing, and electronics in seven provinces (municipalities directly under the Central Government and autonomous regions) . A questionnaire surveywas performed for female staff, and the investigation covered general information, occupational history andexposure to occupational hazards, and reproductive health and childbearing history.Results:A total of 14 614 usable questionnaires were collected, resulting in a response rate of 96.00%. The meanage of all female staff was 36 years. Of all female staff, 80.06% were married and 40.84% were exposed to hazardous factors; 28.14% had abnormal menstruation, and the female staff in theelectronics and railway industries had higher rates of abnormal menstruation (32.28% and 32.11%, respectively) . The overall rate of abnormal gynecological examination results was 18.29%, and the female staff in therailway industry had the highest rate (29.49%) . Of all female staff, 49.01% reported gynecological diseases in the past, among which hyperplasia of mammary glands accounted for 27.11% and inflammation in the reproductive system accounted for 36.31%. The medical staff had higher rates of abnormal menstruation (33.11%) and abnormal gynecological examination results (27.46%) compared with the staff engaged in other occupations. With normal sexual life and no contraceptive measures, the 1-, 2-, and 3-year infertility rates were 24.26%, 11.88%, and 8.88%, respectively.Conclusion:The female staff in the industries of medicine and health, railway, and electronics have serious reproductive health issues. Labor protection should be enhanced and working environment should be improved.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Z L
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D016272:Occupational Health; D009790:Occupations; D060728:Reproductive Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace
keywords: Female worker; Menstruation; Occupational hazards; Reproductive health