Occupational risk factors associated with respiratory symptoms among tannery workers in Mojo town, Southeast Ethiopia, 2018: a comparative cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction Work-related respiratory diseases (WRDs) account for 10–20% of all chronic respiratory illnesses affecting hundreds of millions of people of all ages. Tannery industries are often associated with hazardous working conditions favourable for respiratory conditions. However, information about the prevalence and occupational factors that predispose to respiratory symptoms is meagre in Ethiopia. This study aimed to investigate the magnitude and risk factors associated with work-related respiratory symptoms among tannery industry workers in Mojo town, Ethiopia. Methods A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2018. A total of 602 (299 exposed to tannery factories) and 303 unexposed (civil servants) were included using the stratified sampling method. The British Medical Research Council (BMRC) questionnaire was pretested and interviewer-administered for data collection. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with respiratory symptoms. The significance of associations was ascertained at a < 0.05 p and adjusted odds ratio with a 95% CI was computed to evaluate the strength of associations. Results The prevalence of respiratory symptoms among exposed workers was 27.1% [95% CI (21.7, 32.1)] and 8.3% [95% CI (5.3, 11.6)] among unexposed workers in the previous 12 months and the prevalence was significantly different (X 2 = 36.82; p < 0. 00001). The odds of developing respiratory symptoms was 3.37 times higher among tannery workers than unexposed workers [AOR: 3.37; 95% CI (1.71, 6.46)]. Female sex [AOR:1.80; 95% CI (1.24, 3.34)], temporarily workers [AOR = 3.43; 95% CI (2.63, 7.95)], working in a poorly ventilated working unit [AOR = 1.88; 95% CI (1.22, 3.98)], absence of occupational health and safety training [AOR = 2.37; 95% CI (1.14, 4.92)], and not using personal protective equipment [AOR = 2.30; 95% CI (1.25, 3.46)] were significant factors. Conclusion The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was higher among exposed workers compared to unexposed ones. Sex, employment status, ventilation of working units, absence of occupational health and safety training, and not using personal protective equipment were the factors associated with occupational-related respiratory symptoms. Strategies targeting health and safety training, creating awareness on the use of personal protective equipment, and improving workplace conditions, like the provision of adequate ventilation are useful means for assuaging the condition.

Duration of exposure and educational level as predictors of occupational respiratory symptoms among adults in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Ten primary studies 16,17,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] with 3441 study participants (male = 1983, female = 1458, age range: 18-68 years) were included for the narrative synthesis and meta-analysis. Three studies were unpublished 24,27,31 and seven studies were published from 2014 to 2019.…”

“…16,17,25,26,[28][29][30] The sample size ranged from 196 24 to 566. 31 Four studies were conducted in Addis Ababa, 17,26,27,31 three studies in Oromia Region, 16,29,30 two studies in Amhara region 25,28 and one study in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP) region. 24 The risk level of each study was rated, and we found all studies were rated as low risk of bias (Table 1).…”

“…15 In Ethiopia, there is the transformation of agriculture to the industry, which demanded many workforces that could increase occupational respiratory symptoms in Ethiopia. The prevalence of occupational respiratory symptoms ranges from 27.09% (Tannery workers) 16 to 68.89% (street sweepers) 17 in Ethiopia. To the extent of our knowledge, there is no comprehensive national study on this topic in Ethiopia.…”

Factors Associated With Health Complaints Among Leather Tannery Workers in Bangladesh

“…None of these studies examine the effect of working in specific areas or the types of work in the tannery and the health complaints. However, a cross-sectional study in Southeast Ethiopia reported that the odds of developing respiratory symptoms was 3.37 times higher among tannery workers than unexposed workers (Dalju et al, 2019). A previous study from India also found that lifting 10 to 20 kg or >20 kg was associated with asthma (OR = 2.36 and 2.56) and chronic bronchitis (OR = 2.11 and 1.57) (Öry et al, 1997b).…”

Work - Related Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…The major morbid conditions observed in these workers include respiratory and eye diseases, accidents, burns, cuts and wounds, skin infections, animal bites, etc. [25,26].…”