Abstract

Background: The negative effects of climate change on human health and well-being are widely documented in recent literature. The poorest countries, and the most vulnerable and marginalized individuals, experience the worst consequences from climate change. Laborers are more prone to climate-related conditions (CRC) as they are considered one of the under-privileged populations with low salaries and unfortunate living and working conditions.
Objectives: To measure the burden of CRC on health services in the main laborers’ clinic in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Methods: A cross-sectional study of expatriate workers who attended Al-Razi Health Centre (ARHC) during the study period. A convenience sample was selected and a specific questionnaire was designed for the purpose of this study. The variables included in the questionnaire were age, gender, nationality, occupation, work setting, diagnosis including CRC, medications prescribed and length of sick leave given. CRC were identified and grouped by a panel of experts in line with the published literature.
Results: Out of a total number of 3,715 visits during the study period, CRC visits represented 1,111 with a proportion of 29.9%. The majority (70%) of the CRC patients were working solely outdoors. Infectious diseases were the most common (62.9%) CRC followed by heat-related diseases (16.5%).
Conclusion: CRC have a significant burden on the health services at ARHC. CRC appear not to be significantly associated with age, nationality or place of work of laborers.

Keywords: climate; weather; laborers; outdoor jobs; Bahrain