OBJECTIVETo understand the reproductive health status of female workers in pharmaceutical industry of Gansu Province, to explore influencing factors, and to propose some reference basis of intervening measures.

METHODSThe cluster sampling method was used to study 1801 female workers from 16 pharmaceutical industries in 6 cities (Pingliang, Qingyang, Lanzhou, Dingxi, Zhangye and Jiuquan cities) of Gansu Province. The investigation was performed by interviewing and adopting questionnaires.

RESULTSThere were the problems of labor and organization, which included the overtime work, continuous work, standing for long periods, rapid monotonous action assignments, the loading work and a variety of harmful factors in the working environment of the pharmaceutical industry in Gansu Province. There were many problems in the reproductive health status of female workers. The morbidities of abnormal menstruation and breast diseases in female workers were 43.25% and 20.43%. The order of high morbidities was hyperplasia of mammary glands (91.30%), breast adenofibroma (5.43%) and mastitis (2.99%). The order of morbidities for three reproductive system disease was adnexitis (21.57%), cervical erosion (20.06%) and vaginitis (11.09%). The rates of abnormal menstrual cycle, abnormal menstrual amount and cervical erosion increased with the length of service (P < 0.01). The taking breaks, long standing, loading work, exposure to harmful factors were related to abnormal menstruation (P < 0.05). The rapid repeat monotonous action was an important influencing factor for female reproductive system disease (OR = 1.255, 95%CI = 1.031 ∼ 1.528).

CONCLUSIONThere are relatively serious occupational hazards in the pharmaceutical industry of Gansu Province. The reproductive health status of female workers is not improved. Social public should pay attention to the protection for female workers.