A qualitative study on physical health threatening factors of Iranian seafarers working on ocean going tankers

Abstract

Background: Seafaring is a highly physically demanding profession in a risky environment due to exposure to unique job health related risk factors. The purpose of the study is to describe physical health threatening factors of Iranian seafarers working on tankers. Materials and methods: A qualitative content analysis with inductive approach was performed on 17 Iranian male seafarers in 2016. Subjects were selected by purposive sampling, which continued until data saturation. Data were gathered using semi-structural questionnaire via in-depth-interviews. All interviews were transformed into computer files. Analysis was done based on conventional content analysis approach. Results: Mean job history and age of the participants was 11.9 ± 7.2 and 35.8 ± 9.3 years, respectively. Two main themes emerged during analysis of data and categories were created. The themes are (1) physical health threatening factors at the ship; (2) high risk ranks at the ship. Conclusions: The need for addressing nutrition at sea was acknowledged by seafarers. Also, it seems that revision of some regulations regarding seafarers' medical examination, oral health and heart diseases is necessary.