PREVALENCE OF RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS, AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG TANNERY INDUSTRIES MOJO TOWN, SOUTHEAST ETHIOPIA, 2018: COMPARATIVE CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.

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.