Risk factors for non-communicable diseases among workers at Erdenet Mining Corporation

Abstract

Background: Background: In recent years, ensuring a safe and healthy working environment for mining employees, improving working conditions, protecting and promoting health, and paying attention to other factors affecting health have become essential requirements. While infectious diseases, noncommunicable (chronic) diseases, nutritional disorders, occupational injuries, and mental health conditions are the main indicators for assessing the health impact on mining workers, there is still a lack of research on noncommunicable diseases among mining sector employees in Mongolia. This gap served as the basis for the present study. Aim: To study the risk factors of noncommunicable diseases among employees of Erdenet Mining Corporation. Materials and Methods: A total of 303 employees from 15 divisions of Erdenet Mining Corporation participated in the study. Participants belonging to high-risk groups for noncommunicable diseases were selected using a purposive sampling method. The survey questionnaire was developed based on the WHO STEP wise approach to Surveillance (STEPS) of noncommunicable disease risk factors. Results: Of all participants, 70% were male and 30% were female, with an average age of 46 years. The average total duration of employment was 23 years, of which male employees had worked an average of 19.3 years and female employees 17.3 years at Erdenet Mining Corporation. Among participants, 48.5% had never smoked, while 38.3% were current smokers. When analyzing alcohol consumption by job position, it was found that 85.7% of managers and 66.7% of administrative and decoration workers had high levels of alcohol consumption. Regarding physical activity, 23% of male and 15.2% of female employees reported engaging in active exercise more than three days per week, indicating that male employees were more physically active than females. In terms of dietary habits, 28.3% of males and 17.6% of females did not control their salt intake. As for eating patterns, 53.6% of employees regularly had breakfast, 77.3% regularly had lunch, and 76.6% regularly had dinner at a fixed time. Conclusions: 1. Among the employees surveyed, 48.5% had never smoked, while 38.3% were current smokers. Daily smoking was most prevalent among employees aged 35–54 years (74.2%), with the 25–34 age group also showing a relatively high rate of smoking. Regarding alcohol consumption, 38.2% of male employees reported drinking vodka or similar alcoholic beverages. Alcohol consumption was significantly higher among males compared to females, indicating that it is a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases (p=0.003). 2. In terms of dietary patterns, 53.6% of employees reported regularly having breakfast, 77.3% regularly had lunch, and 76.6% regularly had dinner. Eating habits varied by gender. Concerning physical activity, 23% of male employees and 15.2% of female employees engaged in regular exercise, indicating that male employees were more physically active than females. The study found that lifestyle and behavioral factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, insufÏcient physical activity, and poor dietary habits contribute to an increased risk of noncommunicable diseases among employees.