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Joseph Mberikunashe, Sarah Banda, Addmore Chadambuka, Notion Tafara Gombe, Gerald Shambira, Mufuta Tshimanga, Reginald Matchaba-Hove. Prevalence and risk factors for obstructive respiratory conditions among textile industry workers in Zimbabwe, 2006. The Pan African Medical Journal. 2010;6:1 Key words: Respiratory obstruction, cotton dust, spirometry, Zimbabwe Permanent link: http://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/6/1/full Received: 30/06/2010 - Accepted: 11/07/2010 - Published: 17/07/2010 © Joseph Mberikunashe et al. The Pan African Medical Journal - ISSN 1937-8688. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Prevalence and risk factors for obstructive respiratory conditions among textile industry workers in Zimbabwe, 2006
Joseph Mberikunashe1, Sarah Banda2, Addmore Chadambuka1,&, Notion Tafara Gombe1, Gerald Shambira1, Mufuta Tshimanga1, Reginald Matchaba-Hove1
1Department of Community Medicine, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box A178, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe, 2Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Provincial Medical Directorate Mashonaland West, P.O. Box 139, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe
&Corresponding author
Department of Community Medicine, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box A178, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe
Introduction
Workers in the cotton processing industries risk developing obstructive respiratory conditions due to prolonged exposure to cotton dust. We noted a tenfold increase in asthma among workers in a Textile Manufacturing Company. We determined the prevalence of respiratory obstructive conditions among workers in various sections.
Methods
We conducted a cross sectional analytic study. Workers were randomly sampled and data was collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Respiratory function was assessed using spirometry and chest auscultation. A walk through survey was conducted and a checklist was used to capture hazards and control measures in the work place.
Results
A total of 194 workers participated. The prevalence of severe respiratory obstruction was 27.8%. It was 50.0% among the blowers, 35.3% in waste recovery, 32.5% in carders, 15.0% in spinners and 7.5% among weavers. The mean years of exposure between the affected and the non-affected were significantly different (T =2.20; p< 0.05). Working in the blowing department was significantly associated with developing respiratory obstruction (OR=3.53; 95% CI= 1.61- 7.79) but working in the weaving department was significantly protective (OR 0.16; CI 0.04-0.59).Working in a department for less than 10 years was protective (OR =0.94; 95% CI= 0.48- 1.85), but not significant.
Conclusion
Obstructive respiratory conditions are common among textile workers, with those in blowing and waste recovery sections being the most affected. We recommended worker rotation every six months, regular spirometric screening employment of a medical officer.
