Self-reported voice problems among teachers: prevalence and associated factors
Cláudia Cossentino Bruck Marçal1, Marco Aurélio Peres
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil. claudiabruck@gmail.com
Nearly half of teachers reported voice problems. Female teachers and those with rhinitis, sinusitis, or pharyngitis had higher prevalence, indicating a need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Voice problems are common among educators.
- Understanding prevalence and risk factors is crucial for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of self-reported voice problems in teachers.
- To identify factors associated with voice problems in this population.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 393 teachers in Florianópolis, Brazil.
- Self-administered questionnaire for data collection.
- Multivariable Poisson regression analysis to identify associated factors.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of voice problems was 47.6%.
- Being female was associated with a higher prevalence.
- Rhinitis/sinusitis and pharyngitis were also linked to increased prevalence.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of teachers experience voice problems.
- Identifying specific risk factors like gender and respiratory conditions is key.
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