Bente Elisabeth Moen

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• Dr.med. (PhD)
• Professor (Full) at University of Bergen

Women play a significant role in agriculture worldwide, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where they form a large share of the workforce in horticulture. Horticulture work may expose women to pesticides during pregnancy and childcare, posing serious health risks to women and children. This study explores the experiences of women working in small-sc...

With the global rise in pesticide use, particularly in Africa, pregnant women working in horticulture face a significant risk of pesticide exposure, which may adversely affect fetal neurodevelopment. This study aims to investigate the relationship between self-reported maternal pesticide exposure during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes in...

Background Noise exposure in the informal small-scale metal industry may cause hearing loss, due to metal manufacturing processes. In Tanzania, this industry uses hand tools in metal fabrication processes and is not regulated by authorities. Aim To describe noise exposure levels and to suggest possible improvements in the small-scale metal industr...

Introduction: In Tanzania, there are 50,000 cancer cases reported annually, and this number is projected to double by 2030. Workplace exposure to carcinogens may be a contributing factor to cancer risk. However, there is limited knowledge about the presence and use of carcinogenic chemicals at workplaces in developing countries, particularly in sub...

A cross-sectional study of safety climate and safety performance was performed in Ethiopian construction sites, among 1203 workers from 22 large-scale construction sites. The Nordic Safety Climate Questionnaire was administered using interviews. We developed a model to show the interrelations between safety climate and performance. This model was e...

Background: In Tanzania, iron and steel manufacturing industries are based on manual work with minor automation, as workers segregate scrap metals and add them to furnaces for melting. The workers here are exposed to hazardous conditions, posing a risk to their health. Objective: To determine the prevalence of occupational injuries and possible pre...

Women constitute most of the global horticulture workforce, where pesticide use is prevalent. Protecting their health, particularly during pregnancy, is essential. However, knowledge about practices among pregnant employees that cause exposure to pesticides is limited. This study aims to identify such practices and assess the impact of pesticide-ha...

This study examines the relationship between safety climate and safety performance in large-scale construction sites in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,203workers from 22 large-scale construction sites. The Nordic Safety Climate Questionnaire was administered using interviews. A model was hypothesized to determine the inter...

Women constitute most of the global horticulture workforce, where pesticide use is prevalent. Protecting their health, particularly during pregnancy, is essential. However, knowledge about practices among pregnant employees that cause exposure to pesticides is limited. This study aims to identify such practices and assess the impact of pesticide ha...

Chronic respiratory symptoms are a health concern in the paper industry. This study evaluates the association between personal inhalable paper dust exposure and chronic respiratory symptoms among workers in this industry. In total, 270 workers from the paper industry and 267 from a water bottling factory participated. Chronic respiratory symptoms w...

Background The iron and steel industries are among the most dangerous workplaces in the world compared to other manufacturing industries. Workers are exposed to multiple occupational hazards, which predispose them to high risks of both fatal and non-fatal injuries. Currently, the data on the global prevalence and associated risk factors for occupat...

Objective There are limited data in Ethiopia on common childhood illnesses. We aimed to measure the incidence and risk factors of common childhood illnesses in rural parts of southern Ethiopia. Design A community-based cohort study. Participants and study setting A total of 903 children of 5 years or younger were included between July 2017 and Ja...

Background Every year, 2.3 million people worldwide succumb to work-related accidents and illnesses. The primary industries have long been acknowledged with elevated accident risks. Recent levels and trends of injury and associated fatalities in these sectors are uncertain. An enhanced understanding of these risks in these industries is required fo...

Purpose Excessive paper dust during paper production may harm the workers’ respiratory health. We wanted to assess the inhalable paper dust levels and its determinants among paper industry workers. Methods A study was conducted in Ethiopia to assess the level of personal inhalable paper dust exposure among four paper mills. A total of 150 samples...

Introduction Metal workers in small scale industries are involved in different metal fabrications activities using scraps and metals. They produce metal products such as pans, basins, spoons, boards, boxes, cookers, baking items and spoons. These metal fabrication activities produce noise. Noise is unwanted, unpleasant and louder sound which result...

Background Ethiopia is a fast-growing economy with rapid urbanization and poor occupational safety measures. Fall injuries are common and frequently result in traumatic brain injury (TBI) or spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods We prospectively included fall victims who were hospital-treated for neurotrauma or forensically examined in 2017 in Addis A...

Background The iron and steel industries are among the most dangerous workplaces in the world compared to other manufacturing industries. Workers are exposed to multiple occupational hazards, which predispose them to high risks of both fatal and nonfatal injuries. Currently, the data on the global prevalence and associated risk factors for occupati...

Introduction and objective: Endotoxins from gram-negative bacteria might be released when the coffee cherries are processed and may cause respiratory health problems among workers in the coffee industry. The relationship between bacterial contamination and occupational exposure to endotoxin levels has not been thoroughly explored previously in pri...

Background The measures introduced to control the COVID-19 pandemic, including lockdowns and physical distancing, exerted considerable influence on society. Objectives The aims of this study were to examine (1) the prevalence of people seeking Norwegian crisis shelters for domestic violence during the first period of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) c...

Introduction Prevalence of neural tube defects (NTD) is high thus many children are born with a neural tube defect in Addis Ababa, and surgical closure is a commonly performed procedure at the pediatric neurosurgical specialty center. Research question The primary aim is to study the outcomes in children undergoing surgical closure of NTDs and to...

Introduction: The coir industry processes fibers from coconuts and is important for a high number of people in Sri Lanka. Coir workers handle several dangerous machines. This project has studied occupational injuries among coir workers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in six medium-sized coir industries in Sri Lanka, each with 15-...

Introduction According to ILO estimates, about 2.3 million men and women worldwide die from work-related illnesses or accidents each year. The category of fishing, farming and forestry industry is among the riskiest and most hazardous occupations. Agriculture employs more than one billion workers and 70 percent of child labor worldwide. Fishermen s...

Introduction Manufacturing factory workers in developing countries are at an increased risk of developing hearing loss from continuous exposure to high noise levels without hearing protection. However, use of hearing protection such as earmuffs has been an intervention of choice in many workplaces due to impracticability of engineering and administ...

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of NTDs at ultrasound examination in communities of Addis Ababa and secondarily to provide a description of the dysmorphology of the NTD cases. Methods: We enrolled 958 pregnant women from 20 randomly selected health centers in Addis Ababa during the period from October 1, 201...

This book describes the nature and causes of work-related risk in a global perspective. The social production and social construction of risk is described, using a labour-process approach. The authors try to identify and manage risk at work in the context of globalization. The definition of risk is wide and not totally clear, but includes influence...

Background: Cancer in Africa is an emerging public health problem that needs urgent preventive measures, particularly in workplaces where exposure to carcinogens may occur. In Tanzania, the incidence rate of cancer and mortality rates due to cancers are increasing, with approximately 50,000 new cases each year. This is estimated to double by 2030....

Introduction The use of hearing protection devices (HPDs) has been an intervention of choice in many workplaces such as in the construction industry for quite some time due to impractical effects of engineering and administrative interventions. Questionnaires for assessment for HPDs use among construction workers have been developed and validated i...

Purpose The primary aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of NTDs at ultrasound examination in communities of Addis Ababa and secondarily to provide a description of the dysmorphology of the NTD cases. Methods We enrolled 958 pregnant women from 20 randomly selected health centers in Addis Ababa during the period from October 1, 2018 to...

Background Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is one of the most common neurosurgical conditions. Here, we studied differences in demographics, treatment, and outcome for CSDH patients in low-income (Ethiopia) and high-income (Norway) countries and assessed potential outcome determinants.Methods We included patients from Addis Ababa University Hospit...

Objectives: To explore whether a change in work schedule was associated with a change in the probability of prescribed sleep medication use. Methods: A longitudinal study with annual questionnaire data (2008/2009-2021, except 2019) on work schedule (day work only, shift work without nights and shift work with nights) and prescribed sleep medicat...

Background: Pesticide use in Ethiopia has become a common practice in which large-scale flower farms are the main consumers. Workers on flower farms might be exposed to pesticides while spraying or while performing other tasks related to pesticide use and management. It is unclear whether working as a flower farm sprayer is associated with respira...

Background Shift work disorder (SWD) is highly prevalent among shift-working nurses and has multiple negative health-related effects. There is a dearth of insight into career-related decisions made by nurses suffering from SWD, for instance in terms of their intention to quit work (turnover intention). In this study, we aimed to investigate the ass...

Background: Although provision of sanitary facilities in workplaces is an important issue, very few studies have been undertaken in this regard. Objective: This study assessed the provision of sanitary facilities for market traders and their perceptions of the provided facilities in Lusaka district Zambia. Methods: A cross-sectional study of w...

Background Integrated textile and garment factories are growing in low and middle-income countries, where workers expose to workplace hazards. However, workers’ health condition in the sector is inadequately investigated. Objective This study describes the magnitude of registered health problems and associated work-related and personal factors amo...

Introduction: In primary coffee factories the coffee beans are cleaned and sorted. Studies from the 80- and 90-ties indicated respiratory health effects among the workers, but these results may not represent the present status. Our aim was to review recent studies on dust exposure and respiratory health among coffee factory workers in Tanzania and...

Aim To estimate the prevalence of sleep medication and melatonin use among nurses and to assess if factors related to work, sleep or mental health, were associated with such use. Design A cross-sectional study. Methods A questionnaire survey including 2,798 Norwegian nurses. Associations were estimated using a modified Poisson regression model....

Background Textile and garment factories are growing in low and middle-income countries as worldwide demand for inexpensive clothing increases each year. These integrated textile and garment production factories are often built-in areas with few workplaces and environmental regulations, and employees can be regularly exposed to workplace hazards wi...

Background Untreated surgical conditions may lead to lifelong disability in children. Treating children with surgical conditions may reduce long-term effects of morbidity and disability. Unfortunately, low- and middle-income countries have limited resources for paediatric surgical care. Malawi, for example, has very few paediatric surgeons. There a...

Background: Workers in iron and steel factories in Tanzania are exposed to noise levels above recommended limit values, without using hearing protection devices. Exposure to noise levels above 85 dB(A) is associated with temporary threshold shifts (TTS) of human hearing. Nevertheless, there are few studies of noise and hearing from African countri...

This study aimed to explore how changes in the work schedule would affect the prevalence of Shift Work Disorder (SWD) over time. Two-year follow-up data from 1076 nurses participating in the longitudinal SUrvey of Shift work, Sleep and Health among Norwegian nurses (SUSSH) were included in the study. The questionnaires included measures of work-rel...

Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important cause of trauma-related mortality and morbidity in Ethiopia. There are significant resource limitations along the entire continuum of care, and little is known about the neurosurgical activity and patient outcomes. Methods All surgically treated TBI patients at the four teaching hospitals in...

Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a public health problem in Ethiopia. We need more knowledge about the epidemiology and neurosurgical management of TBI patients to identify possible focus areas for quality improvement and preventive efforts. Methods This was a prospective cross-sectional study (2012-2016) at the four teaching hospitals i...

This study assesses whether farmers’ suicides were associated with the pesticide use in Spain. The cohort study followed 9.5 million men aged 20–64 years who were employed in 2001. The mortality among farmers and non-farmers during the period 2001–2011 was estimated in a geographical area with high pesticide use and in an area with low pesticide us...

Purpose To investigate the relationship between self-reported everyday memory problems the last month, and: (a) shift work schedule, (b) night shifts and quick returns worked the last year, and (c) sleep duration the last month. Methods In all, 1,275 nurses completed the Everyday Memory Questionnaire – revised, and answered questions about shift w...

Background: Relatively little is known about deaths from surgical conditions in low- and middle- income African countries. The prevalence of untreated surgical conditions in Malawi has previously been estimated at 35%, with 24% of the total deaths associated with untreated surgical conditions. In this study, we wished to analyse the causes of deat...

Objectives: Shift work is associated with several negative health effects. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are unclear, but low-grade inflammation has been suggested to play a role. This project aimed to determine whether levels of immunological biomarkers differ depending on work schedule, self-reported sleep duration, self-reported s...

Background: Textile and garment factories are growing in low and middle-income countries; integrated textile and garment production factories are developing, where workers are exposed to dust and dangerous, noisy machines in the work environment. Hence, workers' health might be affected negatively due to exposure to different occupational hazards....

Objectives: Eucalyptus trees are used in the particleboard wood industry in Ethiopia. Dust and chemicals from this production may cause respiratory health problems, but the exposure levels have not been studied previously. The aim of this study was to assess workers' exposure to inhalable dust, endotoxin, and formaldehyde in the two largest particl...

The aim of this study was to determine personal exposure to inhalable dust and endotoxin levels among workers in an integrated cotton-processing textile factory and exposure variability across the different work sections. Full shift measurements were carried out using inhalable conical samplers with 37 mm glass-fiber filters. Personal inhalable dus...

Chronic respiratory symptoms and reduction in lung function has been described as a common health problem among textile workers in low- and middle-income countries. The objective of this study was to measure lung function and respiratory symptoms among workers from an integrated textile factory. A comparative cross-sectional study design with a cro...

Personality has been hypothesized to act as antecedent as well as an outcome of workplace bullying. Still, investigations on the longitudinal relationship between bullying and personality are scarce. We investigated the relationship between accumulated exposure to bullying at work and subsequent changes in psychological hardiness. Additionally, we...

Objectives: The objective of the study was to clarify the reasons why students who graduated from a Master's programme in international health were joining the programme. Another objective was to document how the Master's degree had influenced the careers of the graduates. Study design: An online survey of students who graduated from a Master's...

The flower industry in East Africa has grown in recent years, especially in the production and export of roses. The aim of this study was to assess pesticide use on selected flower farms in Ethiopia. Serum cholinesterase levels in workers were used as a marker of pesticide exposure. This study was a cross-sectional study involving 588 workers from...

Workers represent half of the world’s population and are the major contributors to socio-economic development. Continued, sustainable socio-economic development is only possible if workers have a decent working environment. The headline for Sustainable Development Goal 8 is to ‘Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and...

Back ground The prevalence of untreated surgical conditions in Malawi has been estimated at 35% with 24% of the deaths associated with untreated surgical conditions. In SSA, the primary emphasis for health research has been on communicable diseases, and relatively little is known about deaths from surgical conditions in most middle- to low-, income...

Objectives: To evaluate different work schedules, short rest time between shifts (quick returns), and night shift exposure for their possible adverse effects on different lifestyle factors in a 6-year follow-up study. Methods: Data stemmed from “The Survey of Shiftwork, Sleep and Health,” a cohort study of Norwegian nurses started in 2008/9. The da...

Back ground The prevalence of untreated surgical conditions in Malawi has been estimated at 35% with 24% of the deaths associated with untreated surgical conditions. In SSA, the primary emphasis for health research has been on communicable diseases, and relatively little is known about deaths from surgical conditions in most middle- to low-, income...

Purpose The aim of this study was to examine whether less than 11 h between shifts (i.e., quick returns, QRs) and night shifts is associated with self-reported work-related accidents, near accidents or dozing off at work in a sample of nurses. Methods The study was based on cross-sectional data from 1784 nurses (response rate = 60%; mean age = 40....

Back ground The prevalence of untreated surgical conditions in Malawi has been estimated at 35% with 24% of the deaths associated with untreated surgical conditions. In SSA, the primary emphasis for health research has been on communicable diseases, and relatively little is known about deaths from surgical conditions in most middle- to low-, income...

Work in the wood industry might be associated with respiratory health problems. The production of particleboard used for furniture making and construction is increasing in many countries, and cause dust, endotoxin and formaldehyde exposure of the workers. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and to measure lung...

We assessed Knowledge Attitude and Practice (KAP) regarding occupational noise exposure, Noise-induced hearing loss, audiometry and use of hearing protection devices among iron and steel factory workers exposed to high noise level. A modified, validated, structured questionnaire was used to collect information from 253 male workers randomly selecte...

Abstract Background Work in the wood industry is often associated with exposure to wood dust and formaldehyde. The aims of this study were to describe the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) concerning chemical health hazards among particleboard workers and to compare the KAP among temporary and permanent workers. Methods A cross-sectional study...

Background: This study investigates insomnia as a partial mediator in the relationship between personality and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Methods: The study is based on partly longitudinal data from the ongoing cohort study “Survey of Shift work, Sleep, and Health” (SUSSH) among Norwegian nurses, a survey examining the work situation and h...

Iron and steel factory workers in Tanzania are likely to develop noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) due to exposure to high sound levels. Studies on hearing status in this population are lacking. The aims of this study were to determine prevalence of NIHL among iron and steel workers and compare hearing thresholds at different frequencies with a con...

Coffee workers respiratory health problems, found to be associated with dust exposure in the coffee factories, but the content of the dust is not well known. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the microbial contamination of coffee in dry and wet coffee process, from four farms in two regions of Ethiopia. A total of 36 samples of coffe...

Objective: To assess chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function among female hand pickers. Methods: A total of 374 hand pickers exposed to coffee dust and 175 female controls from water bottling factories were included. The symptoms were assessed using a standardized questionnaire. Personal total dust exposure and lung-function tests were pe...

Objectives To investigate associations between different types of headaches and shift work. Design, participants and outcome measures Nurses with different work schedules (day work, two-shift rotation, night work, three-shift rotation) participated in a cohort study with annual surveys that started in 2008/2009. In 2014 (wave 6), a comprehensive h...

Dust exposure is one of the major risk factors for respiratory health in many workplaces, including coffee factories. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and lung function reduction among workers in Ethiopian primary coffee processing factories, compared to a control group of workers. A total of 115 coffee wor...

Background: Coffee processing has been shown to cause high dust exposure among the workers, but there are few studies from primary processing of coffee, and none of them is from Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess dust exposure and its determinants among workers in primary coffee processing factories of Ethiopia. Methods: A total of 36...

Abstract Background: Quality of life among abused women in Norway in 2006 was found to be significantly low compared to women at the same age in general. The aim of this study was to examine how quality of life is associated with experience of psychological and physical violence intimate partner violence among abused women seeking help after domes...

Background: Quality of life among abused women in Norway in 2006 was found to be significantly low compared to women at the same age in general. The aim of this study was to examine how quality of life is associated with experience of psychological and physical violence intimate partner violence among abused women seeking help after domestic partn...

Background: Machines, processes, and tasks in the iron and steel factories may produce noise levels that are harmful to hearing if not properly controlled. Studies documenting noise exposure levels and related determinants in sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania are lacking. The aim of this study was to document noise exposure and to identify de...

The present study comprised 1,781 nurses who participated in an investigation about working conditions, sleep, and health. They answered a questionnaire about age, sex, marital status, children living at home, work hours per week, number of night shifts last year, and total sleep duration and that also included a validated instrument assessing work...

Sexual coercion in marriage or cohabitating relationships is linked to other types of intimate partner violence. Background: Intimate partner violence in the form of sexual coercion is largely a hidden issue. In this study we have investigated whether the sexual coercion of women occurs in isolation or in conjunction with other forms of violence w...

Purpose: To analyze differences in the ocular surface appearance and tear film status of contact lens wearers and non-wearers in a group of visual display terminals (VDT) workers and additionally to assess differences between lens materials. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 236 office workers, of whom 92 were contact lens wearers. Workers provi...