title: Respiratory Tract Problems among Wood Furniture Manufacturing Factory Workers in the Northeast of Thailand.
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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Dr. P.H. Program in Public Health Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Soongkhang
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Laohasiriwong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014934:Wood
chemical_list: D004391:Dust