[Factors associated with voice disorders among women teachers].
This study aimed to identify risk factors for voice disorders (hoarseness in the previous six months as an initial manifestation, and vocal cord nodules as a more severe manifestation of overt disease) among teachers. The cross-sectional study included 747 women teachers from elementary and middle schools in the public school system in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia State, Brazil. Data were collected using a self-applied, standardized questionnaire. Hoarseness in the previous six months was reported by 59.2% of teachers and vocal cord nodules by 12.9%. Logistic regression techniques showed that hoarseness was statistically associated with > 24 classroom hours per week, work in more than one school, and having to make an effort to speak. Vocal cord nodules were associated with working > 5 years as a teacher, work in more than one school, working at another job besides teaching, and having to make an effort to speak. In conclusion, voice disorders are frequent among schoolteachers and are associated with multiple occupational risk factors, besides purely biological ones.
Departamento de Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Brazil.
Tânia Maria de
TM
Araújo
Eduardo José Farias Borges dos
EJ
Reis
Fernando Martins
FM
Carvalho
Lauro Antonio
LA
Porto
Israel Costa
IC
Reis
Jonathan Moura de
JM
Andrade
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching; D013997:Time Factors; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D017132:Workplace