Publication: Respiratory Tract Problems among Wood Furniture Manufacturing Factory Workers in the Northeast of Thailand
Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Wood furniture manufacturing factory workers are at high risk of exposure to wood
dust in wood working processes. Wood dust exposure could cause respiratory
symptoms, such as reduce lung function, chronic bronchitis, and asthma. The
Northeast region of Thailand has many wood furniture manufacturing factories.
However, limited studies were carried out to explore the effect of wood dust
exposure on workers.
Objective
This study aimed to assess the respiratory symptoms and determine factors associated
with these symptoms among wood furniture manufacturing factory workers.
Method
This cross-sectional analytical research used a multistage random sampling to
select 511 workers from three provinces in the Northeast of Thailand. The data
was collected using a structured questionnaire interview. The content validity of
questionnaire was tested by 3 experts and had a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.82.
Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regressions.
Result
The result indicated that 29.94% of these workers had respiratory symptoms,
including coughing(18.79%), nasal secretion (15.66%), and stuffy nose (15.07%).
Factors that were significantly associated with respiratory symptoms (p–value<0.05)
were (a) not always wearing mask (adjusted OR=2.26;95% CI=1.37-3.72), (b) low to
medium level of knowledge on dust prevention (adjusted OR=1.83;95% CI=1.23-
2.73) and (c) contacted softwood dust (adjusted OR=1.97;95% CI= 1.06-3.64).
Conclusion
About 30% of wood furniture manufacturing factory workers had respiratory
symptoms with related to both personal preventive behaviors and their working
environments. Therefore, the raising awareness for using personal protective
equipment during work will help them to prevent from various respiratory track
problems.
KEY WORDS
Northeast of Thailand, respirable dust, respiratory symptoms, wood dust, wood
furniture manufacturing.
Description
Soongkhang I,1 Laohasiriwong W2
1Dr. P.H. Program in Public Health
Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
2Faculty of Public Health
Research and Training Center for Enhancing Quality
of Life of Working-Age People,Khon Kaen University
123 Moo 16 Mittapap Road, Nai-Mueang, Mueang
District, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Keywords
Northeast of Thailand, Respirable dust, Respiratory symptoms, Wood dust, Wood furniture manufacturing