Urogenital infection symptoms and occupational stress among women working in export production factories in Tianjin, China

ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of urogenital infection symptoms and their association with occupational stress among women working in export production factories in China.MethodsSix hundred and thirty-eight women workers in three factories in Tianjin, China were surveyed. Information was collected on women's demographic characteristics, levels of occupational stress, and urogenital infection symptoms. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression.ResultsAmong the 638 women who provided information on urogenital symptoms, 30.9% reported at least one symptom: 27.9% reported abnormal discharge, 2.4% reported genital sores, and 6.3% reported pain with urination. Feeling exhausted was associated with an increased risk for reporting genital sores [OR=1.35 (1.05, 1.73)] and pain with urination [OR=1.21 (1.06, 1.39)], while reporting low job security was significantly associated with reporting at least one symptom of urogenital infection [OR=1.51 (1.03, 2.20)].ConclusionsMany women working in China's export factories report symptoms of urogenital infection. Occupational stress may be linked to an increased risk for urogenital infection. Focused efforts are needed to improve accessibility to reproductive health services for women working in China's export production factories.