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Prawn trawling in the Gulf of Carpentaria, northern Australia: Aspects of occupational health
Author(s) -
Scrimgeour Euan M
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1994.tb125827.x
Subject(s) - medicine , trawling , prawn , reproductive medicine , fishing , occupational safety and health , reproductive health , family medicine , fishery , demography , environmental health , pregnancy , population , genetics , pathology , sociology , biology
Objective To conduct an occupational health study of men and women employed on prawn trawlers in the northern prawn fishery (NPF), Australia's major fishery. Design A retrospective review of attendances by crew members of prawn trawlers at the principal Health Centre on Groote Eylandt, between 1986 and 1989, and a prospective study, including a health and safety questionnaire, of all attendances at the Health Centre from April to June, 1990 (the first half of the annual fishing season). Setting Alyangula Health Centre, Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory. Results From 1986 to mid‐1990, there were over 700 attendances. Those with minor ailments were treated by nursing sisters and the remainder (152) were referred to the doctor and included in the study. In 1990, 29 patients were part of the prospective study. Of those seen by the doctor, the mean ages of men and women were 32 and 18 years respectively. The commonest diagnoses were: lacerations, sprains and fractures (30.9%); skin sepsis and dermatitis (25.7%); and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (13.8%). Among women, most of whom were cooks, 23% of consultations were for STDs. Knowledge of STDs and their prophylaxis among the crews was poor. Conclusions All new employees should be given formal safety instruction before going to sea. To reduce the risk of STD, health education posters and condom dispensers should be