<p>Assessment of Chronic Respiratory Health Symptoms and Associated Factors Among Flour Mill Factory Workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2019: A Cross-Sectional Study</p>

Abstract

Background: Flour mill workers are at high risk of developing respiratory symptoms due to exposure to flour dust in their working environment. Exposure to flour dust linked with the development of chronic respiratory disorders. However, very little evidence has been available on the respiratory symptoms of exposed workers in large-scale flour mill factories. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess chronic respiratory health symptoms and associated factors among flour mill workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 424 randomly selected workers from Addis Ababa flour mill factories. Respiratory health symptoms were assessed using an American Thoracic Society standard questionnaire customized with local context. Data were checked for completeness and Epi-Info V. 7.2 and SPSS V.21 statistical software were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify variables associated with chronic respiratory health symptoms. Variables that had significant association were identified based on adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and p <0.05. Data were presented using tables, texts and figures. Results: The prevalence of chronic respiratory health symptoms among flour mill factory workers was 58.3% (95% CI: 53.7-63.4). Chronic respiratory health symptoms were significantly associated with age group (AOR=1.95, 95% CI; 1.17-2.79 and AOR=12.3, 95% CI; 4.39-34.6), monthly income (AOR=1.68, 95% CI; 1-2.79), work experience (AOR=2.58, 95% CI; 1-6.62), past dust exposure (AOR=1.86, 95% CI; 1.08-3.2) and utilization of respiratory protective equipment (AOR=2.29, 95% CI; 1.27-4.13). Conclusion and Recommendation: Chronic respiratory health symptoms were highly prevalent among flour mill factory workers. Supportive supervision and cooperation between Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, flour mill managers and workers are needed to reduce exposure and improve working environment.

Assessment of dust exposure and chronic respiratory symptoms among workers in medium scale woodwork factories in Ethiopia; a cross sectional study

“…This study is in line with a study conducted in Tanzania, which stated that previous dusty jobs are three times more likely to have difficulty of breathing and breathlessness as the respiratory health symptoms than free from the previous dusty job [33]. This study is also similar to a study conducted in Ethiopia, which stated that workers who had past dust exposure history were 1.86 times more likely to have at least one chronic respiratory health symptoms than workers who had no past dust exposure history [28]. The reason for the significant association of past occupational dust exposure history with the development of at least one chronic respiratory symptom might be due to misunderstanding and lack of training and knowledge on RPE utilization of workers as well as workers who had experience on dust exposure may ignore in using RPE as they consider themselves adapting the dust.…”

“…As stated somewhere else in previous study that workers with a previous exposure ignore to use of personal protective equipment because they think they adapt to the dust. This statistical significance could be because the workers might have previously worked in dusty jobs identified to cause the respiratory problem, so this may lead to the aforementioned respiratory tissue physiologic change in later life and exacerbate the occurrence of respiratory symptoms [ 28 ].…”

“…Dust: consisting of particles in the environment that originates from several sources such as wood dust [ 28 ].…”

Prevalence of Respiratory Symptoms and Risk Factors Among Street Sweepers in Gondar City Northwest, Ethiopia, 2021: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Any item of clothing made up of textile/leather can be worn by the workers to cover their nose/mouth to protect the entry of dust particles. 21 …”

Occupational inhalant allergy in food handling occupations

“…In Ethiopian flour mill workers, significant risk factors for work-related respiratory symptoms included employment duration >5 years, flour mixing operations, inadequate workplace ventilation, lack of respiratory protective equipment and bakers having no safety training [26][27][28]. Two studies of bakeries in the DR Congo and Benin reported the prevalence of OA as 3.6% and 10% respectively [29,30].…”