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Respiratory Health Among Hand Pickers in Primary Coffee-Processing Factories of Ethiopia
Samson Wakuma Abaya1, Magne Bråtveit, Wakgari Deressa
1Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Mr Abaya, Dr Deressa, Dr Kumie); Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway (Dr Bråtveit); and Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway (Dr Moen).
Objective:
The aim of this study was to assess chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function among female hand pickers.
Methods:
A total of 374 hand pickers exposed to coffee dust and 175 female controls from water bottling factories were included. The symptoms were assessed using a standardized questionnaire. Personal total dust exposure and lung function tests were performed.
Results:
Hand pickers experienced a higher dust exposure, displayed a higher prevalence ratio for cough [prevalence ratio (PR) = 3.0, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.4 to 6.2] and work-related shortness of breath (PR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.1 to 5.6), and had a lower FEF25-75 than controls. Hand pickers without tables had a significantly higher prevalence ratio of cough with sputum (PR = 3.9, 95% CI: 1.6 to 9.5) and lower forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and mean forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of the FVC than hand pickers with tables.
Conclusion:
Hand pickers show a range of adverse symptoms and lung function impairments that warrant efforts to improve working conditions.
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