Mortality patterns among occupationally diseased WCFCB beneficiaries.

Abstract

Occupational diseases are a global public health challenge. Workers Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB) is a public health agency whose mandate is to finance healthcare of occupational diseases and injuries. The only two legally accepted occupational diseases in Zambia are pneumoconiosis and tuberculosis. Due to WCFCB’s limitation in the healthcare administration to mainly healthcare financing, little is known about the disease and mortality burden among its beneficiaries. This study therefore sought to explore mortality patterns among occupational disease WCFCB beneficiaries. Methods A quantitative design was applied. WCFCB secondary data was reviewed. A sample size of 273 cases was drawn. Stata version 14 was utilized to draw descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Findings 34 cases (12.5%) from the sample were reported dead during the period under study. 91% of the mortalities observed in the period were of tuberculosis background. 53% of the mortality cases were unskilled labour. And 59% of the cases were clinically diagnosed at more than 45 years of age. On predictors, only employment duration, at a p value of 0.033 was found significant. Discussion TB remains a leading cause of death in Zambia. Our study is consistent with other studies on its high burden among the unskilled workers. There were fewer deaths of pneumoconiosis background. Conclusion The majority of mortalities were of tuberculosis background. There is a higher likelihood that the observed mortalities were HIV related. A future study on the prevalence of HIV among WCFCB beneficiaries is recommended.