JO-
A SPECIAL REPORT SERIES BY THE N.C. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, DIVISION OF
HEALTH SERVICES, STATE CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS, P.O. BOX 2091, RALEIGH, N.C. 27602
No. 50
April 1989
OCCUPATIONAL MORTALITY AMONG
NORTH CAROLINA FEMALES 1984-l^i: D0C£££ ,11
A DEATH RATE ANALYSIS CLEARINGHOUSE
MAY 22 1969
«
N.C. STATE LIBRARY
RALEIGH
by
Kathryn B. Surles
Paul W. C. Johnson
Paul A. Bueecher
The authors gratefully acknowledge the expert assistance of Dr. Michael J. Symons who is a
member of the faculty of the Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University
of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
ABSTRACT
This study of female mortality follows a similar one for males. Both reports use age-specific and
age-adjusted death rate ratios for the most detailed categories of occupation, industry, and underlying
cause of death considered feasible for the size of the database.
In this study of traditionally female-intense occupation and industry groups, results reveal excess
mortality among females working as laborers, sales supervisors and proprietors, waitresses, and
hairdressers. Excess risk was observed in such industries as laundry and drycleaning, eating and drinking
places, barber and beauty shops, food manufacturing, communications, and hospitals. In general, low risk
was observed among bookkeepers, sales workers, teachers, and secretaries and in such industries as
banking, social services/religious/membership organizations, general merchandise
stores, apparel stores, electrical products manufacturing, colleges and universities, elementary and
secondary schools, and furniture and fixtures manufacturing.
Initial results appeared to be inflated for RNs and textile machine operators compared to LPNs and
other workers in the textile industry. Investigation revealed that coding conventions for the nonspecific
terms "nurse” and "textile worker” most certainly contributed to the disparities observed. Nevertheless,
excess risk of death was observed among both nurses and textile workers in general.
For most of the occupation and industry groups examined, this study's findings are similar to those
observed in a recent California study. An exception is secretaries/stenographers/typists for whom
California results indicated excess risk while the N.C. results suggest low risk.
For the reader’s convenience, this report repeats methodological and other details previously reported
in the study of male mortality. Also, this report concludes, as did the former one, with a list of
recommendations for actions that would serve to enhance the study of occupational mortality in North
Carolina.
