Mineworkers, including females, are prone to work-related musculoskeletal disorders and these disorders are not well reported amongst female mineworkers in South Africa.
This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the presence of musculoskeletal pain over a 12-month period amongst female mineworkers (
Female mineworkers’ responses to the presence of musculoskeletal pain over the previous 12-month period and their exposure to physical and psychological factors were elicited using a standardised questionnaire. Descriptive and multivariable analytical statistics were conducted to test for associations between physical and psychological factors and the presence of musculoskeletal pain over the previous 12 months.
The median age of participants was 40 years, with 50.22% of participants reporting the presence of musculoskeletal pain over the previous 12 months. On multivariable analysis, education level and good to excellent health status were protective against the existence of pain during the previous 12 months. Participants’ perceived ratings of experiencing moderate-to-high pain intensities were significantly associated with reports of pain over the past 12 months.
These findings may raise awareness amongst physiotherapists and occupational medicine physicians about the factors associated with musculoskeletal pain amongst female mineworkers, which they can then use in managing and developing interventions aimed at improving the physical health of female mineworkers.
Our study highlights the need for medical surveillance of musculoskeletal pain in female mineworkers. A cohort study in a larger study population and across several mines will build on the existing cross-sectional information and help inform workplace interventions for female mineworkers.
Mining, which is physically intense and psychologically demanding work, has been a male-dominated setting for several centuries. A high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) has been reported amongst miners in several countries (Bandyopadhyay, Dev & Gangopadhyay
Increasingly, women, who have started to form a fundamental part of mining activities in several countries, are involved in both the artisanal and formal mining industries. In South Africa, a country with a long mining history, changes in the political climate and employment legislation have seen the entry of women into the formal mining sector since 1996. In 2018, women working in mining constituted approximately 12% of the workforce on South African mines (Minerals Council of South Africa
The majority of studies performed thus far amongst women working in mining in South Africa have focussed on gender perspectives of the workplace and the challenges encountered by women entering this sector (Benya
Our epidemiological observational cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2016 and January 2017 in a single gold mine in Gauteng, South Africa. This mine has the largest workforce of all gold mines in South Africa, which comprises 6482 miners, with 589 of them being women. The mine has three major shafts where women work. These women work underground as labourers as well as professionals such as engineers and geologists. The mine has its in-house medical services, including primary healthcare, occupational healthcare, first aid rooms and shaft clinics for workers. The mine clinic offers primary and secondary medical services, 24 h a day, 7 days a week to all employees in the mine. A complete list for the study population was obtained from the Human Resource Department of the mine. In total, 589 females were working on the mine, with 553 being black South Africans and 33 white South Africans and three females of mixed race at the time of our study.
Our study sample included all the females of black South African origin (
In a finite population of 553 with a precision of 5% where the actual proportion of MSDs was expected to be closer to 50% with a 95% confidence interval (CI), a minimum sample size of 219 was required to give our study sufficient power, which would allow for any significant associations between the factors under study and MSD to be identified. To achieve the minimum expected sample size, we invited all 553 female mineworkers to participate in our study.
A self-administered questionnaire based on the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire (Kuorinka et al.
Details on occupational activities including the current occupation, whether this was underground or surface work, the number of years employed and the nature of the employment contract were collected. There were 13 questions on physical factors, 14 questions on work demands, five questions on work control, 11 questions on social interaction and one question on organisational culture. Questions on exposure to physical factors covered exposure to being involved in various static activities for an extended period (e.g. standing, sitting and squatting/kneeling in the same posture), working in awkward postures, lifting weights, exposure to vibration and involvement in repetitive activities.
Questions on psychosocial factors included questions relating to work demands, the ability to control their working activities, social interaction in the work environment and an assessment of the existing organisational culture at work. Responses to questions on physical factors, work demands, work control and social interaction were on a scale of 1 to 4 (seldom/never = 1; always = 4). Responses to the organisational culture at work were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 (rigid and rule-based = 1; encouraging and supportive = 5).
The questionnaires were translated into the common local languages spoken on the mine (isiZulu and Sotho) and back-translated to ensure that the validity of the questions was maintained. The internal consistency and content validity of the questionnaire were assessed by administering the tool to 10 female miners at the mine in September 2016 for piloting before the actual survey and the necessary corrections were implemented.
Meetings were held with the mine management and worker unions to inform them of the study. A 5-day-long workshop was held with representatives of the worker unions on the mine (National Union of Mine Workers, Association of Mine Workers and Construction Union, United Association of South Africa Solidarity). Clarity was given to the unions and workers on the study purpose and the questionnaire.
Four information-sharing sessions were held with the female mineworkers, in which they were informed about our study. During these sessions, all were invited to participate after which, signed informed consent was obtained before the issuing of questionnaires. Questionnaires were issued to participants in the language of their choice and were anonymised to reduce participation bias. The participants chose where to complete the questionnaires at their convenience (at home/work). They were given the first author’s contact details should they want clarity on any of the questions. On average, the questionnaire took an hour to complete. They returned the questionnaire to the first author who verified the completeness of their questionnaires.
The data from the questionnaires were double entered into a database created in Epi-Data. The two datasets were compared to correct for any anomalies with data entry. The first author cleaned the data. Editing of the data involved checking each variable for outliers and coding errors. The data obtained from 225 employees were entered in Epi-Data and then exported to STATA V 15 for statistical analyses.
Frequencies and medians with ranges were calculated and presented for categorical and continuous demographic variables, respectively. Continuous demographic variables were categorised around the median for inclusion in bivariate and multivariable analysis. Smoking and alcohol histories were classified as having ever smoked or consumed alcohol versus having never smoked or consumed alcohol.
Female mineworkers reported several different occupation descriptions, which, with the assistance of mine management, were categorised into occupations that were ‘involved directly in mining activities’ or being ‘involved in supportive mining activities’ on the mine.
Participants’ responses to questions on physical and psychosocial factors were grouped into different factors.
Their responses to questions relating to working in static positions were summed to give the participant a total score. The total score was categorised around the median to establish low and high exposure to static positions. A similar procedure was followed for responses related to questions on repetitive movement, physical load, working in awkward postures and vibration exposure. Responses to psychosocial factors on work demands, control, social interaction and organisational culture were handled in the same manner.
The presence of pain in the neck and back in the past 12 months was based on the categorical responses of women (yes/no). Pain in the ‘upper limbs’ was determined by women’s categorical responses to pain in either shoulder, elbow or wrist and pain in the ‘lower limbs’ was determined by women’s responses to pain in either hip/thigh, knee or ankle. If a participant reported having pain in any anatomical site of the body in the past 12 months, then they were classified as having ‘pain ever in the past 12 months’.
The question of pain in the past 12 months lasting for more than 3 months was poorly answered despite the piloting of the questionnaire and was not included in the analysis. Hence, an assessment of chronic pain could not be established for this study population.
In determining the ‘intensity of pain’, women who had no pain or slight pain were classified as having low pain intensity. In contrast, women with bearable pain were classified as having moderate pain intensity, and women with excruciating pain were classified as having a high intensity of pain.
Women who reported having poor or fair health status were classified as having ‘poor’ health. In contrast, responses of good health remained classified as such, and women with very good and excellent health were classified as having an excellent health status. Women reporting a chronic disease were categorised on their response (yes/no).
On descriptive analysis, frequencies and medians with ranges were calculated and presented for categorical-dependent and continuous independent exposure variables, respectively. On univariate analysis, log-binomial regression analysis was conducted (
This study received ethical approval from the Biomedical Research Committee of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (BREC REF NO: BE473/16). The mine management and worker unions gave approval for our study to take place. All women signed informed consent before their participation.
The sample composed of 250 women (45.21%) who provided signed informed consent. A total of 235 (42.49%) returned completed questionnaires. Ten (1.8%) of the questionnaires were incomplete and thus not included in our study. The results presented below are based on the analysis of these 225 questionnaires (40.69%).
The median age of female mineworkers participating in this study was 40 years (range: 21–61 years), with most being married or in a live-in relationship (
Demographic profile and health status of female miners in a South African gold mine in 2017 (
Demographic profile | Median | Range | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
40.0 | 21–61 | - | - | |
Single | - | - | 74 | 32.89 |
Married/living together | - | - | 121 | 53.78 |
Separated/divorced/widowed | - | - | 30 | 14.35 |
Did not attend school | - | - | 9 | 4.00 |
Completed primary school | - | - | 34 | 15.11 |
Completed high school | - | - | 87 | 34.67 |
Post-high school | - | - | 95 | 46.22 |
- | - | - | - | |
Involved directly in mining | - | - | 138 | 61.33 |
Involved in supportive mining activities | - | - | 87 | 38.67 |
6.0 | 1–17 | - | - | |
Ex | 26 | 11.56 | ||
Current | - | - | 9 | 4.00 |
Never | - | - | 190 | 84.44 |
Years smoked (median; range) | 3.5 | 3–9 | - | - |
Amount per day (median; range) | 6.0 | 2–10 | - | - |
Ex | - | - | 49 | 21.78 |
Current | - | - | 7 | 3.11 |
Never | - | - | 169 | 75.11 |
Years consumed alcohol (median; range) | 4.0 | 1–14 | - | - |
Amount per day of bottles (median; range) | 5.5 | 2–12 | - | - |
Low intensity | - | - | 150 | 66.67 |
Moderate intensity | - | - | 52 | 23.11 |
High intensity | - | - | 23 | 10.22 |
Poor | - | - | 55 | 24.44 |
Good | - | - | 65 | 28.49 |
Excellent | - | - | 105 | 46.67 |
- | - | 31 | 13.78 |
, Defined on a rating scale.
Approximately 50.0% (
Self-reported pain in the past 12 months amongst female miners in a South African gold mine in 2017 (
Pain in the past 12 months | No |
Yes |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | |||
Neck | 146 | 64.89 | 79 | 35.11 |
Back | 133 | 59.11 | 92 | 40.89 |
Upper limbs | 131 | 58.22 | 94 | 41.72 |
Lower limbs | 142 | 63.11 | 83 | 36.89 |
Pain ever in the past 12 months | 112 | 49.78 | 113 | 50.22 |
The majority reported having high exposure to all of the physical and psychosocial factors. One hundred and forty-three (63.6%) and 146 (64.9%) reported having high exposure to repetitive movement and vibration in their work, respectively. One hundred and twenty-six (56.0%) and 157 (69.8%) reported having high work control and good organisational culture in their work, respectively (
Exposure to physical and psychosocial factors amongst female miners in a South African gold mine in 2017 (
Variables | Low exposure |
High exposure |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | |||
Working in static positions | 102 | 45.3 | 123 | 54.7 |
Repetitive movement | 82 | 36.4 | 143 | 63.6 |
Physical load | 106 | 47.1 | 119 | 52.9 |
Working in awkward postures | 85 | 37.8 | 140 | 62.2 |
Vibration exposure | 79 | 35.1 | 146 | 64.9 |
Work demands | 106 | 47.1 | 119 | 52.9 |
Work control | 99 | 44.0 | 126 | 56.0 |
Social interaction | 101 | 44.9 | 124 | 55.1 |
Organisational culture (good) | 68 | 30.8 | 157 | 69.8 |
Having a high school education or higher was protective against reports of 12-month pain in the neck (Relative Risk (RR): 0.61; 95% CI: 0.43–0.88) and upper limbs (RR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.48–0.89). High exposure to repetitive movements during work was significantly associated with neck pain (RR: 1.81; 95% CI: 1.17–2.81) and back pain (RR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.01–2.09) in the past 12 months. High exposure to carrying physical loads was significantly associated with neck pain (RR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.11–2.37), back pain (RR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.04–2.01) and pain ever in the past 12 months (RR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.03–1.76). Having high control over one’s work was protective against upper limb pain in the past 12 months (RR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.51–0.94) and lower limbs (RR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.50–0.98). Having good organisational culture at work was protective against pain in the past 12 months in the neck (RR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.41–0.81), back (RR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.47–0.87), upper limbs (RR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.49–0.90) and pain ‘ever’ (RR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.55–0.91). Having a chronic illness and reports of experiencing a moderate or high intensity of pain were significantly associated with all outcomes of pain under study. Female mineworkers’ perceptions of being in a state of good to excellent health were protective against all pain outcomes (
Crude associations of demographics, physical and psychosocial factors, health status and pain in the past 12 months amongst female miners in a South African gold mine in 2017.
Variable | Pain in the past 12 months |
||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Neck |
Back |
Upper limbs |
Lower limbs |
Ever |
|||||||||||
RR | 95% CI | RR | 95% CI | RR | 95% CI | RR | 95% CI | RR | 95% CI | ||||||
Age ≥ 40 years (yes) | 0.91 | 0.64–1.30 | 0.606 | 0.81 | 0.59–1.11 | 0.184 | 1.00 | 0.73–1.36 | 0.993 | 0.91 | 0.64–1.28 | 0.578 | 0.83 | 0.64–1.07 | 0.157 |
Married/living together (yes) | 0.80 | 0.56–1.14 | 0.210 | 0.89 | 0.66–1.23 | 0.500 | 1.16 | 0.85–1.59 | 0.353 | 1.07 | 0.76–1.51 | 0.710 | 0.94 | 0.72–1.22 | 0.636 |
Education (high school and above) | 0.61 | 0.43–0.88 | 0.008 | 0.75 | 0.53–1.06 | 0.105 | 0.65 | 0.48–0.89 | 0.008 | 0.70 | 0.48–1.00 | 0.054 | 0.79 | 0.59–1.05 | 0.107 |
Working directly in mining (yes) | 0.93 | 0.65–1.33 | 0.676 | 0.86 | 0.63–1.17 | 0.335 | 0.97 | 0.71–1.33 | 0.856 | 0.96 | 0.67–1.35 | 0.800 | 0.95 | 0.73–1.24 | 0.719 |
Employment duration (≥ 6 years) | 0.96 | 0.68–1.37 | 0.839 | 1.03 | 0.75–1.40 | 0.877 | 1.02 | 0.75–1.39 | 0.884 | 0.92 | 0.65–1.29 | 0.620 | 0.96 | 0.74–1.24 | 0.737 |
Smoking ever (yes) | 0.97 | 0.59–1.60 | 0.912 | 1.14 | 0.77–1.71 | 0.514 | 1.29 | 0.89–1.85 | 0.178 | 1.10 | 0.70–1.72 | 0.672 | 1.17 | 0.85–1.61 | 0.345 |
Alcohol consumption ever (yes) | 0.96 | 0.63–1.45 | 0.832 | 132 | 0.95–1.83 | 0.094 | 1.09 | 0.78–1.54 | 0.61 | 1.09 | 0.74–1.60 | 0.660 | 1.30 | 0.99–1.69 | 0.053 |
Working in static positions (high exposure) | 1.28 | 0.89–1.96 | 0.182 | 1.23 | 0.89–1.70 | 0.205 | 1.12 | 0.82–1.53 | 0.480 | 1.14 | 0.80–1.61 | 0.468 | 1.12 | 0.86–1.46 | 0.391 |
Repetitive movement (high exposure) | 1.81 | 1.17–2.81 | 0.008 | 1.46 | 1.01–2.09 | 0.043 | 1.35 | 0.95–1.91 | 0.090 | 1.33 | 0.91–1.95 | 0.143 | 1.28 | 0.95–1.71 | 0.100 |
Physical load (high exposure) | 1.62 | 1.11–2.37 | 0.012 | 1.45 | 1.04–2.01 | 0.027 | 1.31 | 0.96–1.80 | 0.094 | 1.34 | 0.95–1.92 | 0.096 | 1.35 | 1.03–1.76 | 0.031 |
Awkward postures (high exposure) | 0.94 | 0.65–1.35 | 0.738 | 1.09 | 0.78–1.51 | 0.626 | 1.07 | 0.78–1.48 | 0.676 | 1.02 | 0.71–1.45 | 0.919 | 1.03 | 0.78–1.34 | 0.850 |
Vibration (high exposure ) | 0.99 | 0.68–1.43 | 0.939 | 1.01 | 0.73–1.41 | 0.932 | 1.21 | 0.86–1.71 | 0.268 | 1.12 | 0.78–1.62 | 0.54 | 0.91 | 0.70–1.19 | 0.511 |
Work demands (high) | 0.83 | 0.58–1.18 | 0.290 | 0.74–1.39 | 0.74–1.39 | 0.926 | 0.93 | 0.68–1.27 | 0.642 | 1.22 | 0.86–1.73 | 0.260 | 1.01 | 0.78–1.31 | 0.950 |
Work control (high) | 0.73 | 0.51–1.04 | 0.079 | 0.60–1.12 | 0.60–1.12 | 0.215 | 0.69 | 0.51–0.94 | 0.019 | 0.70 | 0.50–0.98 | 0.038 | 0.80 | 0.62–1.04 | 0.090 |
Social interaction (high) | 0.97 | 0.68–1.39 | 0.880 | 0.88–1.67 | 0.88–1.67 | 0.247 | 1.10 | 0.80–1.50 | 0.553 | 1.17 | 0.83–1.67 | 0.369 | 1.19 | 0.91–1.55 | 0.211 |
Organisational culture (good) | 0.57 | 0.41–0.81 | 0.001 | 0.47–0.87 | 0.47–0.87 | 0.005 | 0.67 | 0.49–0.90 | 0.008 | 0.77 | 0.54–1.08 | 0.129 | 0.71 | 0.55–0.91 | 0.006 |
Moderate/high pain intensity rating (yes) | 4.94 | 2.90–8.43 | < 0.001 | 5.42 | 3.27–8.99 | < 0.001 | 3.01 | 2.03–4.44 | < 0.001 | 3.78 | 2.38–6.02 | < 0.001 | 3.61 | 2.50–5.21 | < 0.001 |
Good/excellent rating of health status (yes) | 0.29 | 0.21–0.39 | < 0.001 | 0.39 | 0.29–0.51 | < 0.001 | 0.38 | 0.29–0.50 | < 0.001 | 0.38 | 0.28–0.52 | < 0.001 | 3.61 | 2.50–5.21 | < 0.001 |
Presence of other chronic diseases (yes) | 1.98 | 1.40–2.81 | < 0.001 | 1.74 | 1.26–2.39 | 0.001 | 1.58 | 1.14–2.21 | 0.006 | 1.73 | 1.21–2.48 | 0.003 | 1.60 | 1.24–2.07 | < 0.001 |
RR, relative risk; CI, confidence interval.
On multivariable analysis, having a high school or post-high school education was protective against reporting pain in all sites in the previous 12 months. Female mineworkers who rated their pain intensity as moderate or high were significantly more likely to report pain in all sites and ‘ever’ in the past 12 months. Being in good to excellent health was protective against reporting pain in any site or ‘ever’ in the previous 12 months (
Multivariable logistic regression models of demographics, physical and psychosocial factors, health status and pain in the past 12 months amongst female mine workers employed in a South African gold mine (
Variable | Pain in the past 12 months |
||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Neck |
Back |
Upper limbs |
Lower limbs |
Ever |
|||||||||||
RR | 95% CI | RR | 95% CI | RR | 95% CI | RR | 95% CI | RR | 95% CI | ||||||
Age ≥ 40 years (yes) | 0.82 | 0.58–1.14 | 0.233 | 0.81 | 0.60–1.09 | 0.158 | 0.90 | 0.67–1.21 | 0.494 | 0.84 | 0.60–1.87 | 0.33 | 0.83 | 0.65–1.06 | 0.13 |
Education (high school and above) | 0.51 | 0.36–0.73 | < 0.001 | 0.66 | 0.48–0.90 | 0.009 | 0.61 | 0.44–0.84 | 0.003 | 0.63 | 0.44–0.90 | 0.01 | 0.71 | 0.54–0.94 | 0.12 |
Physical factors | |||||||||||||||
Repetitive movement (high exposure) | 1.28 | 0.83–2.00 | 0.27 | 1.09 | 0.75–1.57 | 0.66 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Physical load (high exposure) | 1.17 | 0.83–1.68 | 0.37 | 1.05 | 0.77–1.42 | 0.74 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1.06 | 0.84–1.33 | 0.62 |
Work control (high) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0.79 | 0.60–1.04 | 0.10 | 0.80 | 0.59–1.09 | 0.159 | - | - | - |
Organisational culture (good) | 0.93 | 0.70–1.22 | 0.59 | 0.95 | 0.74–1.21 | 0.66 | 0.94 | 0.70–1.25 | 0.65 | - | - | - | 0.95 | 0.76–1.19 | 0.67 |
Moderate/high pain intensity rating (yes) | 3.20 | 1.81–5.64 | < 0.001 | 4.25 | 2.48–7.29 | < 0.001 | 2.24 | 1.46–3.44 | < 0.001 | 2.91 | 1.74–4.85 | < 0.001 | 2.96 | 2.00–4.27 | < 0.001 |
Good/excellent rating of health status (yes) | 0.42 | 0.29–0.62 | < 0.001 | 0.61 | 0.45–0.84 | 0.003 | 0.52 | 0.38–0.72 | < 0.001 | 0.57 | 0.39–0.81 | 0.002 | 0.67 | 0.52–0.86 | 0.002 |
Presence of other chronic disease (yes) | 1.08 | 0.79–1.49 | 0.62 | 1.07 | 0.81–1.44 | 0.6 | 1 | 0.75–1.35 | 0.97 | 1.11 | 0.78–1.57 | 0.56 | 1.09 | 0.87–1.36 | 0.47 |
RR, relative risk; CI, confidence interval.
Our study documents the presence of musculoskeletal pain in the previous 12 months in females working in a mine in South Africa and highlights the need for surveillance of this condition in this working population. Importantly, it highlights that the physical and psychosocial factors associated with pain in female mineworkers are not different from those of their male counterparts (Widanarko et al.
Occupational exposure to physical factors, including heavy physical loads, repetitive activities and vibration in underground mining, is well documented (Donoghue
The participants who were better educated were less likely to report experiencing pain in the previous 12 months. It could be that they were less likely to be involved in activities that exposed them to high physical load and repetitive activities such as being team supervisors despite being underground. The relationship between education and occupational exposure to physical factors has been described previously. Leclerc et al. found education to be a predictor of physical work exposure, which was associated with occupational exposure (Leclerc et al.
Significant associations between high exposure to repetitive movements and physical load and neck and back pain were reported on bivariate analysis. They remained associated but not significant on multivariable analysis. These factors have been reported as risks for neck and back pain in various working populations, including mining (Andersen et al.
Having high control at work has been shown to be protective against reporting musculoskeletal pain (Xu et al.
In a similar vein, on bivariate analysis, female mineworkers who felt they had a good organisational culture at work were less likely to report having pain in the past 12 months, which is in keeping with other reports. Individuals working in an environment, in which there is a good organisational culture and support, are less likely to report illness. Widanarko et al. (
Studies have shown that female mineworkers are more likely to report having a high intensity of pain as compared to males (De Cassia Pereira Fernandes et al.
People who perceive themselves to be in poor health are more likely to report illness (Goldberg et al.
Globally, there is a high prevalence of comorbidities (Hajat & Stein
Associations between chronic illness and musculoskeletal pain have been reported in working populations. Dias in a study of South African male miners reported a significant association between those having a mental disorder and the presence of musculoskeletal pain (Dias
Our findings provide valuable insights into the factors associated with pain in female mineworkers and highlight the need for continuous medical surveillance of musculoskeletal pain and associated factors in this group of working females. Unmonitored female mineworkers will present with pain and musculoskeletal-related disorders, putting pressure on an already overburdened health system for care. Preventive programmes focussed on reducing exposure to physical factors and ensuring a supportive work environment and good organisational culture, will aid in reducing the burden of pain they experience. Healthcare professionals working in an occupational setting, such as occupational health physicians and physiotherapists, can assist in developing and implementing preventive and promotive programmes. This will improve the physical health of female mineworkers and reduce the ensuing burden on the health system that will occur if they continue to present with occupationally related pain.
Whilst the findings of our study are important, the limitations need to be considered. Our study was potentially affected by the reduced participation rate, with approximately 41% of the target population participating. A larger study population may have resulted in stronger significant associations on multivariable analysis. The self-report and voluntary participation could have also led to an element of information and participation bias influencing the findings. To address this in the future, one would have to request access to medical records to match exposure, medical histories and reports of symptoms.
In confining our study to current employees, the findings could have been influenced by the healthy worker effect. Workers who had left the mine because of illness would have been missed, thus biasing the findings towards the null. In choosing to use a cross-sectional study design, we limited our ability to establish causality, because exposure and disease outcomes were measured concurrently. If we had used an alternative study design, such as a cohort study, this would have assisted in establishing exposure and disease outcomes.
Our study of female mineworkers working in a gold mine in South Africa found a high presence of musculoskeletal pain in the previous 12 months. Repetitive movement and physical loading were associated with the presence of musculoskeletal pain. At the same time, good organisational culture and high work control were protective against the presence of musculoskeletal pain. Despite our study limitations, these are significant findings that should be considered in context and used to inform further research in this study population. It highlights the need for the development of ongoing work-based medical surveillance programmes for female mineworkers working in mining in South Africa. Our findings should raise awareness amongst occupational health personnel and physiotherapists. We identified factors associated with the presence of pain in female mineworkers and these may be used to manage and develop interventions to address and improve the physical health of female mineworkers in South Africa.
The authors would like to acknowledge the women miners who participated in our study.
There is no conflict of interests to report by the authors.
This article arose from the Master’s dissertation of K.P.K. She collected the data, analysed and wrote the dissertation and the first draft of this article. S.N. supervised the Master’s process from concept to finalisation, revised and edited all drafts of this article.
This study was self-funded.
The data are available on request from the corresponding author.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any affiliated agency of the authors.