Health-related quality of life (EQ-5D + C) among people living in artisanal and small-scale gold mining areas in Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In Zimbabwe, an estimated 500,000 people work in the sector of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). Two million Zimbabweans are dependent on this sector. Using mercury is common to extract gold from ore. Long term exposure to mercury can cause various adverse health conditions including chronic mercury intoxication. The influence of these adverse health effects on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is still unknown. The aim of this study is to assess the HRQoL of people who identify themselves as miners, and to analyze potential influencing factors, such as age, years of working with mercury and health conditions caused by mercury exposure.

Methods

This cross-sectional study assessed the HRQoL using the standardized EQ-5D + C (3 L) questionnaire a

SUBMITTER: Butscher FM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7437047 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature