Risk factors for merchant seafarer repatriation due to injury or illness at sea

Int Marit Health. 2015;66(2):61-6. doi: 10.5603/IMH.2015.0016.

Abstract

Background: Repatriation represents a serious outcome of illness or injury among seafarers at sea. The aim of this study was to describe repatriation patterns due to injury and illness in a seafarer cohort, and determine risk factors for repatriation.

Materials and methods: The study analysed a telemedicine database of 3,921 seafarer injury and illness cases over a 4 year period using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Results: There were 61 repatriations over the study period (1.6% of cases). Most repatriations were due to illness (38; 62.3%) as opposed to injury (23; 37.7%). Back injuries and gastrointestinal illness were the most frequent causes of repatriations. Using logistic regression, nationality was identified as a significant risk factor for repatriation.

Conclusions: This study emphasizes illness as a major cause of seafarer repatriation, and suggests opportunities for future studies to identify potentially modifiable risk factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Health Care Costs
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Diseases / economics
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology
  • Occupational Diseases / therapy*
  • Occupational Injuries / economics
  • Occupational Injuries / epidemiology
  • Occupational Injuries / therapy*
  • Risk Factors
  • Ships*
  • Transportation of Patients* / economics
  • Transportation of Patients* / methods
  • Transportation of Patients* / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult