Urogenital infection symptoms and occupational stress among women working in export production factories in Tianjin, China

Kristin K. Sznajder, Siobán D. Harlow, Sarah A. Burgard, Yan Rang Wang, Cheng Han, Jing Liu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To assess the prevalence of urogenital infection symptoms and their association with occupational stress among women working in export production factories in China. Methods: Six hundred and thirty-eight women workers in three factories in Tianjin, China were surveyed. Information was collected on women's demographic characteristics, levels of occupational stress, and urogenital infection symptoms. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Results: Among the 638 women who provided information on urogenital symptoms, 30.9% reported at least one symptom: 27.9% reported abnormal discharge, 2.4% reported genital sores, and 6.3% reported pain with urination. Feeling exhausted was associated with an increased risk for reporting genital sores [OR=1.35 (1.05, 1.73)] and pain with urination [OR=1.21 (1.06, 1.39)], while reporting low job security was significantly associated with reporting at least one symptom of urogenital infection [OR=1.51 (1.03, 2.20)]. Conclusions: Many women working in China's export factories report symptoms of urogenital infection. Occupational stress may be linked to an increased risk for urogenital infection. Focused efforts are needed to improve accessibility to reproductive health services for women working in China's export production factories.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)142-149
Number of pages8
JournalAsian Pacific Journal of Reproduction
Volume3
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • General Veterinary
  • Plant Science
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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