Abstract:
Abstract
Introduction: Respiratory health problems are very common in tannery
industries owing to hazards associated to working condition. Hundreds of millions
of people of all ages suffer from chronic respiratory diseases, in which10-20% of
them is work related. These diseases become an economic and health concern
for developing and developed countries. However, in Ethiopia, the magnitude of
the problem is not well known and there is lack of information about the risk
factors.
Objective: The aim of this study is to assess prevalence of respiratory symptoms
and factors associated in tannery factories, Mojo town, Southeast Ethiopia, 2018.
Methods: Comparative cross-sectional study was conductedin Mojo town,
Southeastern, Ethiopia. A total of 299 exposed and 303 unexposed participants
were included in this study.Stratified sampling method was used to select study
participants from exposed groups and simple random sampling method was used
to study participants from unexposed group. A binary logistic regression analysis
was performed to identify factors associated with respiratory problems on the
basis of adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and p-value
< 0.05.
Results: Twelve months prevalence of respiratory symptoms was 27.1 % [95%
CI: 21.7%, 32.1%] among exposed and 8.3% [95%CI: 5.3%, 11.6] among
unexposed study participants. Being female [AOR=2.06; 95%CI (1.24, 3.43)],
educational status(Grade 1-8): [AOR=5.2; 95%CI: (2.57, 10.55)], work experience
more than ten years [AOR=1.97; 95%CI:(1.11, 3.48)], occupational health and
safety training [AOR=2.78; 95%CI: (1.48, 5.21)], and Not using personal
protective equipment[AOR=2.76;95%CI:( 1.52, 5.01)] were significantly
associated with prevalence of respiratory sympms.
Conclusion: Prevalence of respiratory symptoms was comparatively high among
exposed compared to unexposedstudy participants. Sex, educational status,
work exprience, occupational health and safety training, personal protective
equipment use were associated factors for prevalence of respiratory symptoms in
tannery industry. Therefore, OSH training and providing personal protective
equipment were recommended to reduce of prevalence of respiratory symptoms.
Key words: Respiratory symptoms, Prevalence, Tannery factories, Ethiopia,
Comparative cross-sectional study.
