SELF REPORTED ASTHMA AMONG TEXTILE PRODUCTION WORKERS IN NAIROBI, KENYA

Abstract

Few studies have been done to document occupational hazards in the textile manufacturing sector of Kenya’s economy. The objective of this cross sectional study was to determine prevalence of self reported asthma among textile production workers in Nairobi. A multistage simple random sampling procedure was used to select both the factories and the persons who participated in the study. A questionnaire was administered to consenting workers to collect data that was analyzed using the SPSS software. Chi -square test, correlation test and independent T- tests were used to analyze the data. Three hundred and twenty participants from five factories were randomly selected for the study. Overall prevalence of self reported asthma was found to be 15.6%. A significant association between age and self reported asthma (p< 0.025, Odds ratio 2.54 (95 % CI 1.10 – 5.89) was noted. There was no significant association between level of education and self reported asthma (p> 0.394, Odds ratio 1.36 (95 % CI 0.72 – 2.60). There was a significant association between coughing with wheezing and self reported asthma (p< 0.001, Odds ratio 15.67 (95 % CI 4.76 – 51.56). Attack of shortness of breath was the strongest symptoms associated with self reported asthma. The high prevalence of self reported asthma suggested that there is exposure to asthmagenic agents at the textile factory production line that was injurious to the workers. Therefore, the study suggests that, there is need to put in place appropriate interventional measures to minimize the risk of exposure to asthmagenic agents among textile production workers in Nairobi, Kenya