Suicide in the Australian Mining Industry: Assessment of Rates among Male Workers Using 19 Years of Coronial Data

Background@#International evidence shows that mining workers are at greater risk of suicide than other workers; however, it is not known whether this applies to the Australian mining sector. @*Methods@#Using data from the National Coronial Information System, rates of suicide among male mining workers were compared to those of three comparators: construction workers, mining and construction workers combined, and all other workers. Age-standardized suicide rates were calculated for 2001–2019 and across three intervals ‘2001–2006’, ‘2007–2011’, and ‘2012–2019’. Incidence rate ratios for suicide were calculated to compare incidence rates for mining workers, to those of the three comparative groups. @*Results@#The suicide rate for male mining workers in Australia was estimated to be between 11 and 25 per 100,000 (likely closer to 25 per 100,000) over the period of 2001–2019. There was also evidence that the suicide rate among mining workers is increasing, and the suicide rate among mining workers for the period 2012–2019 was significantly higher than the other worker group. @*Conclusions@#Based on available data, we tentatively deduce that suicide mortality among male mining workers is of concern. More information is needed on both industry and occupation of suicide decedents in order to better assess whether, and the extent to which, mining workers (and other industries and occupations) are at increased risk of suicide.

Short-term neonatal outcome in late preterm vs. term infants

To determine the short-term neonatal outcomes in late preterm infants [LPI's] as compared to term infants and their association with maternal risk factors. A case control, descriptive study. The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from January to December 2009. The study included 326 late preterm babies [defined as those born between 34 0/7 to 37 6/7 weeks of gestation] and equal number of term control babies at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Data, including obstetric history, maternal complications, neonatal morbidities, etc., was retrieved from patients' medical records. The data was compared with the control group for complications, fetal morbidity and maternal morbidity. Late preterm infants constituted 10.6% of all deliveries and 77% of all live preterm births during the study period. Respiratory distress syndrome [RDS] [16.5% vs. 0.3%, p < 0.001], growth retardation [24.8% vs. 4%, p < 0.001], hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy [37.9% vs. 11%, p < 0.001], and sepsis [4.9% vs. 0.3%, p < 0.001] were found to be the major morbidities in the study group. The need for resuscitation was 12.7 times higher in the study group as compared to the term babies [21.4% vs. 1.2%, p < 0.001]. NICU admissions in the study group were also higher [18.8% vs. 2.4%, p < 0.001]. Hypertension [12.5% vs. 1.5%, p < 0.001], diabetes [12.5% vs. 9.2%, p < 0.001], antenatal history of UTI [1.5% vs. 0.3%, p < 0.001], and prolong rupture of membrane [8.9% vs. 4%, p < 0.001] were significant maternal morbidities in the late preterm group. The late preterm group had greater morbidity, compared to term neonates. Prior awareness of the morbidities associated with late preterm babies is helpful for the health care providers to anticipate and manage potential complications in late preterm infants

Association of gestational weight gain and pre-pregnancy body mass index with adverse pregnancy outcome

To determine the association between gestation weight gain [GWG] and adverse pregnancy outcome in a Pakistani population. Analytical study. The Aga Khan University, Karachi, from February 2003 to 2007. This study used secondary data of 4,735 women from a large cohort study on fetal growth. Pre-pregnancy BMI was categorized according to the recommendations from the institute of medicine [IOM, 2009] and gestation weight gain [GWG] was noted. Chi-square test was used to find the association of GWG and pre-pregnancy BMI with low birth weight [LBW], preterm delivery, large for gestational age [LGA], and caesarean section. Logistic regression analysis was performed to control for confounders like age, parity, working status and ethnicity. The prevalence of LBW decreased with increasing BMI. GWG of the population was noted as 8.5 kg. LBW was observed to have an inverse relationship with GWG. Women below the age of 19 were twice more likely to have LBW than above 35 years of age. Weight gain above the recommended range were twice more likely to have large for dates. Overweight women were 1.5 times more likely to deliver preterm whereas obese women were 1.4 times more likely to undergo caesarean section than women with normal BMI. The optimal weight gain was estimated to be 8.5 kg to prevent low birth weight in our population. Obese women are more likely to have LGA, caesarean sections and pre-term deliveries