Chronic Respiratory Symptoms and Associated Factors among Fruit and Vegetable Workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Comparative Cross Sectional Study.
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Date
2021-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: Fruit And Vegetable Market is an abundant source of bio- aerosols as fruits and
vegetables are in and out in the daily basis. Thus, regular workers are exposed to these bioaerosols
for
a
significant
period
of
time
depending
on their
work
timetable.
Exposure
to
organic
and
inorganic
waste
and
long
term
inhalation
of
bio-aerosols
during
working
hours
may
be
associated
with
increases
in chronic
respiratory
health
symptoms
among
green
grocers.
Objective: The objective of this research was to determine the prevalence of chronic
respiratory symptoms and related factors of fruit and vegetable workers compared with the
control, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods and materials: Comparative cross sectional study was carried out from Sep 2020–July
2021.A total of 314 (156 fruit and vegetable workers and 158 office workers were participated in the
study. Chronic respiratory symptoms were assessed by interview method using questionnaire adapted
from the British Medical Research Council‟s. Then data was first entered a using Ep info version 7.1.
Then data were smoothed, edited using SPSS version 24 software. Multiple linear regressions, bivariate
logistic regressions and Multivariable logistic regression were computed to depict the data and related
factors. Also culture method was done to count and compare bacterial and fungal concentrations
between fruit and vegetable workers and office workers.
Results: In this study the prevalence ratio of overall chronic respiratory symptoms (PR = 2.87, 95% CI:
1.772-4.66) was significantly higher fruit and vegetable workers (46.7%) compared to controls (23.4%).
And also the bivariate and multivariable logistic regression score showed that sex, (AOR = 2.11,
95% CI = 1.12-3.98) educational status, (AOR = 1.34, 95% CI = 0.78-2.32), Working hours per
day (AOR = 3.91, 95% CI = 1.586-9.65), working department (AOR = 3.20, 95% CI = 0.9011.40)
were
associated
with
chronic
respiratory
symptoms.
And
an
average
Bacterial
and Fungal
concentration was also found to be significantly higher in the air of vegetable market (276
Colony Forming Unit) as compared to air in the workplace of controls (7 Colony Forming Unit).
Similarly vegetable markets have higher number of fungal concentration than that of the
controls. I.e. (too numerous to Count) versus nil respectively.
Conclusion: The fruit and vegetable market workers (green grocers) had a higher prevalence
of chronic respiratory symptoms relative to office workers. So that, respiratory protective devices
should be given to deliver preventive measures.
Description
Keywords
Fruit and vegetable market workers (green grocers), organic dust, chronic respiratory symptoms.