Occupational Diseases among Sanitary Workers in Worldwide: Systematic Review

Abstract Background: Sanitary workers are exposing with different occupational hazards in these setting, that leading occupational disabilities or disease. Thus, quantification of these problems among these group will be significant for further attention in both scientific scholars and government to withstand sanitary workers. Methods: Reviewed data were searched from databases, namely PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Lilacs for eligible studies from 2000 to 2022. Waste collectors and emptier, street sweepers, sewage workers, health care facilities cleaners were eligible populations. Gastro intestinal conditions, respiratory problems, skin problems and other psychosocial problems. Risk of bias was assessed using an adopted from Liverpool Quality Assessment Tool. Results: A total of 168 studies were identified from the databases and other reports. Finally, 50 studies were included. About 15/23(65%) developed countries were included but 28/50 (56%) of the studies obtained from developing countries. More than 91% of the studies were used cross sectional study design and 50% used type of logistic regression and multivariate regression. Majority of the study obtained from India 15 (30%) and followed by Egypt 5(10%). From 7, 711 sanitary workers, majority of them 48 %( 3682) were sewage workers and followed by street sweepers 1441(19%). The remaining were 1317(17%), 828(11%), 275(3%) and 168(2%) were waste water workers, solid waste collectors, waste collectors with sewage workers and street sweeper with waste collectors, respectively. From reviewed of occupational related outcomes (50), occupational respiratory diseases studies were accounted about 26 (52%) studies and followed by gastro-enteritis disease 14 (28%) related studies. The remaining studies were focused on both gastroenteritis and respiratory conditions 4 (8%); multiple health problem 3 (6%); gastroenteritis, Respiratory, and mental and Socials conditions 2(4%); and one study was focused on Mental health conditions of sanitary workers Conclusion: Despite a large number of studies, there is limited evidence to date of the occupational health diseases faced by sanitation workers. Nevertheless, the research to date provides suggestive evidence of elevated occupational related risk among sanitation workers. More research is needed to improve the current bodies of evidence for all included health outcomes to be able to quantify disease burden among sanitary workers.