Prevalence of respiratory symptoms among wheat flour mill workers in Ibadan, Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
While investigations into occupational health problems of various groups of workers have been conducted in Nigeria, so far, very little attention has been paid to the health status of workers in the grain industry. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms among wheat flour mill workers and control groups in a medium size industrial setting in Nigeria was studied.


METHODS
The study employed a cross-sectional analytical design. Data were collected using structured interviews, work-site observations, and physical examination. Respondents consisted of 91 flour-millers, 30 matched internal controls from the maintenance unit of the same flour mill factory, and 121 matched external controls.


RESULTS
Fifty-four percent of the flour-millers reported at least one respiratory symptom compared with 30% of the internal controls (P < 0.05) and 19% of the external controls (P < 0.001). Most symptoms were significantly more prevalent among the flour-millers compared with control subjects, and this trend was more evident amongst non-smokers than ex-smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
The study concluded that wheat flour mill workers in Nigeria, like grain workers elsewhere, were at an increased risk of developing both pulmonary and non-pulmonary symptoms compared with control subjects. The result has implications for improved dust control measures in the grain industry in Nigeria.
Ijadunola
K T
KT
Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. kijadun@yahoo.com
Erhabor
G E
GE
Onayade
A A
AA
Ijadunola
M Y
MY
Fatusi
A O
AO
Asuzu
M C
MC
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005076:Exanthema / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005433:Flour / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005511:Food Handling; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013183:Sputum / Q000378:metabolism; D014908:Triticum / Q000009:adverse effects*