Occupational Health Factors Associated with Quality of Life among Small-Scale Fishermen in Malaysia

Abstract

Fishermen are exposed to demanding occupational conditions that may adversely affect their health and quality of life. Occupational health and socioeconomic conditions are therefore important in understanding the well-being of small-scale fishing communities. This study examined the association between occupational health factors and quality of life among 86 small-scale fishermen in Malaysia. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, financial assets, human assets, physical assets, and social assets, and were analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. The findings showed that income (odds ratio [OR] = 234.640, p < 0.001), savings (OR = 1.644, p < 0.01), health status (OR = 1.021, p < 0.01), and household relationships (OR = 3.405, p < 0.001) were positively associated with quality of life. Having a loan (OR = 0.081, p < 0.01) was negatively associated with quality of life, while household expenses (OR = 3.600, p < 0.01) were also significantly associated with quality of life. The model explained 50.6% of the variation in quality of life (Cox & Snell R² = 0.506). The findings highlight the importance of strengthening occupational health programmes, improving access to healthcare services, and supporting the socioeconomic well-being of fishing communities to enhance fishermen’s quality of life.