Public health implications of changing patterns of recruitment into the South African mining industry, 1973–2012: a database analysis

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dc.contributor.authorEhrlich, Rodney
dc.contributor.authorMontgomery, Alex
dc.contributor.authorAkugizibwe, Paula
dc.contributor.authorGonsalves, Gregg
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T06:54:53Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T06:54:53Z
dc.date.issued2018
dc.description.abstractAbstract Background The triple epidemic of silicosis, tuberculosis and HIV infection among migrant miners from South Africa and neighbouring countries who have worked in the South African mining industry is currently the target of regional and international control efforts. These initiatives are hampered by a lack of information on this population. Methods This study analysed the major South African mining recruitment database for the period 1973 to 2012 by calendar intervals and demographic and occupational characteristics. Changes in area of recruitment were mapped using a geographic information system. Results The database contained over 10 million contracts, reducible to 1.64 million individuals. Major trends relevant to health projection were a decline in gold mining employment, the major source of silicosis; increasing recruitment of female miners; and shifts in recruitment from foreign to South African miners, from the Eastern to the Northwestern parts of South Africa, and from company employees to contractors. Conclusions These changes portend further externalisation of the burden of mining lung disease to home communities, as miners, particularly from the gold sector, leave the industry. The implications for health, surveillance and health services of the growing number of miners hired as contractors need further research, as does the health experience of female miners. Overall, the information in this report can be used for projection of disease burden and direction of compensation, screening and treatment services for the ex-miner population throughout Southern Africa.
dc.identifier.apacitationEhrlich, R., Montgomery, A., Akugizibwe, P., & Gonsalves, G. (2018). Public health implications of changing patterns of recruitment into the South African mining industry, 1973–2012: a database analysis. <i>BMC Public Health</i>, 18(1), 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34364en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationEhrlich, Rodney, Alex Montgomery, Paula Akugizibwe, and Gregg Gonsalves "Public health implications of changing patterns of recruitment into the South African mining industry, 1973–2012: a database analysis." <i>BMC Public Health</i> 18, 1. (2018): 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34364en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationEhrlich, R., Montgomery, A., Akugizibwe, P. & Gonsalves, G. 2018. Public health implications of changing patterns of recruitment into the South African mining industry, 1973–2012: a database analysis. <i>BMC Public Health.</i> 18(1):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34364en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1471-2458
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Ehrlich, Rodney AU - Montgomery, Alex AU - Akugizibwe, Paula AU - Gonsalves, Gregg AB - Abstract Background The triple epidemic of silicosis, tuberculosis and HIV infection among migrant miners from South Africa and neighbouring countries who have worked in the South African mining industry is currently the target of regional and international control efforts. These initiatives are hampered by a lack of information on this population. Methods This study analysed the major South African mining recruitment database for the period 1973 to 2012 by calendar intervals and demographic and occupational characteristics. Changes in area of recruitment were mapped using a geographic information system. Results The database contained over 10 million contracts, reducible to 1.64 million individuals. Major trends relevant to health projection were a decline in gold mining employment, the major source of silicosis; increasing recruitment of female miners; and shifts in recruitment from foreign to South African miners, from the Eastern to the Northwestern parts of South Africa, and from company employees to contractors. Conclusions These changes portend further externalisation of the burden of mining lung disease to home communities, as miners, particularly from the gold sector, leave the industry. The implications for health, surveillance and health services of the growing number of miners hired as contractors need further research, as does the health experience of female miners. Overall, the information in this report can be used for projection of disease burden and direction of compensation, screening and treatment services for the ex-miner population throughout Southern Africa. DA - 2018 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 1 J1 - BMC Public Health LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2018 SM - 1471-2458 T1 - Public health implications of changing patterns of recruitment into the South African mining industry, 1973–2012: a database analysis TI - Public health implications of changing patterns of recruitment into the South African mining industry, 1973–2012: a database analysis UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34364 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34364
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationEhrlich R, Montgomery A, Akugizibwe P, Gonsalves G. Public health implications of changing patterns of recruitment into the South African mining industry, 1973–2012: a database analysis. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34364.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Public Health and Family Medicine
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.sourceBMC Public Health
dc.source.journalissue1
dc.source.journalvolume18
dc.source.pagination174 - 177
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4640-x
dc.subject.otherGold
dc.subject.otherMigrant labour
dc.subject.otherMining
dc.subject.otherSilicosis
dc.subject.otherSouthern Africa
dc.subject.otherTuberculosis
dc.titlePublic health implications of changing patterns of recruitment into the South African mining industry, 1973–2012: a database analysis
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
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