Paper Title: Comparative study of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among production and administration cement factory workers in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Authors: Douglas K.E, Katchy I
Article DOI:
Abstract/Summary:
BACKGROUND: The cement industry has recently attracted a lot of attention owing to its phenomenal expansion and immense contribution to socio-economic development of Nigeria and especially Rivers State where many developmental projects such as construction of roads, building of houses etc are going on. Chronic obstructive Pulmonary Disease appears to be on the rise among workers in this endeavour. This study was to compare Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease among production and administration cement factory workers in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. METHOD: Following ethical approval 200 consenting respondents were recruited to represent production and administrative study groups via multi-stage sampling in this descriptive cross sectional study. Data were collected using structured close ended questionnaires, a checklist for walk through survey, spirometry and dust level metre. Data were later entered and analyzed with SPSS version 19 and presented using descriptive and analytical statistical tools. RESULT: Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease (COPD) was 36% (and statistically significant 0.004) higher among production (operations staff) than the 18% in administration staff of the cement company. The disease was also higher among respondents above 40 years, male and longer exposure. CONCLUSION: COPD among workers in this cement factory was high among the production (operations) group than the administration group. It is recommended that health education on COPD be intensified among workers just as production and enforcement of Personal Protective Equipment is maintained.
Publication Date:
2017-06-30