[An analysis of influencing factors for brucellosis in major occupational groups in Bayannur, China]

Objective: To investigate the current status of brucella infection in major occupational groups in Bayannur, China, and to analyze the risk factors for brucellosis. Methods: From January to March, 2015, a questionnaire survey and the serological testing were performed to investigate the current status of brucella infection in 649 workers in 13 slaughter and breeding plants in 7 counties in Bayannur, China. The items in the questionnaire survey included general information, related occupational information, living habits, medical history, and awareness of related knowledge. Results: A total of 112 workers (17.26%) had brucella infection. Brucella infection was associated with sex, age, years of exposure to hazardous substances, job, educational background, usage of protective equipment, the presence or absence of a wound at the exposure site, and whether to smoke during the work clearance (P<0.05) . The multivariate analysis showed that the risk factors for brucellosis were meat processing work (OR=1.812) , >5 years of exposure to hazardous substances (OR=1.363) , improper use or nonuse of protective equipment (OR=1.957) , smoke during work (OR=2.027) , and the presence of a woundat the exposure site (OR= 1.231) ; the protective factors for brucellosis were high school and college education and above (OR=0.521) and high rate of awareness of brucella-related knowledge (OR=0.648) . Conclusion: The brucella infection rate is high in the major occupational groups in Bayannur, China. The main influencing factors for brucellosis are job, years of exposure to hazardous substances, usage of protective equipment, whether to smoke during work, and the presence or absence of a wound at the exposure site.