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Occupational Medicine Advance Access published online on February 22, 2007
Occupational Medicine, doi:10.1093/occmed/kqm004
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Short Report

Acute respiratory symptoms among sisal workers in Tanzania

Akwilina V. Kayumba1,2,3, Magne Bråtveit2, Yohana Mashalla4 and Bente E. Moen2

1 Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
2 Department for Public Health and Primary Health Care, Section for Occupational Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
3 Directorate of Occupational Health Services, Tanzania Occupational Health Services, PO Box 3520, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
4 Department of Physiology, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

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.

Keywords      Agricultural workers; respiratory symptoms; sisal

Correspondence to: Akwilina V. Kayumba, Department for Public Health and Primary Health Care, Section for Occupational Medicine, University of Bergen, Kalfarveien 31, N-5018 Bergen, Norway. Tel: +47 55 58 61 00; fax: +47 55 58 61 05; e-mail: akwilina.kayumba{at}gmail.com


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