Acute respiratory symptoms among sisal workers in Tanzania

Mashalla, Yohana J.

Acute respiratory symptoms among sisal workers in Tanzania

dc.contributor.author	Mashalla, Yohana J.
dc.date.accessioned	2021-10-21T13:15:35Z
dc.date.available	2021-10-21T13:15:35Z
dc.date.issued	2007-02-22
dc.description.abstract	Background Few studies have focused on respiratory health effects among sisal workers. Aim To report on the prevalence of acute respiratory symptoms among sisal processors. Methods We interviewed 163 dust-exposed brushing and decortication workers and 31 low-exposed security workers from six sisal estates in Tanzania using a modified symptom score questionnaire to determine the prevalence of acute respiratory symptoms during work. Groups were compared using chi-square tests, Fisher's exact tests, t-tests and logistic regression, adjusting for confounding factors. Results After the first working day of the week, 73% of the brushing workers reported dry cough, 66% sneezing, 65% productive cough, 63% running nose and 34% stuffy nose. Brushing workers had a significantly higher prevalence of these symptoms than decortication workers. Brushing and decortication workers had significantly more dry cough and sneezing than the control group of security workers, when adjusting for age, smoking, past respiratory diseases and residence. Conclusion Processors of sisal fibre have a high prevalence of acute respiratory symptoms. More detailed studies on work and health in sisal estates are needed, including exposure studies.	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Akwilina V. Kayumba, Magne Bråtveit, Yohana Mashalla, Bente E. Moen, Acute respiratory symptoms among sisal workers in Tanzania, Occupational Medicine, Volume 57, Issue 4, June 2007, Pages 290–293	en_US
dc.identifier.other	https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqm004
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/778
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.publisher	Occupational Medicine	en_US
dc.subject	Agricultural workers	en_US
dc.subject	Respiratory symptoms	en_US
dc.subject	Sisal	en_US
dc.title	Acute respiratory symptoms among sisal workers in Tanzania	en_US
dc.type	Article	en_US