Abstract:
Background: Workers in Small scale industries in Tanzania are exposed to many hazard such as noise, heat and others including isocyanates from spray paints and specific agents here in. Studies conducted in the area had shown that workers exposed to spray paints have an increased risk of developing occupational asthma, lung function deficit, respiratory symptoms and reduced respiration capacity.
Method: A descriptive cross-sectional, comparative study design was conducted using workers in Automobile Spray Paint Industry as exposed group and office workers as control group in all the three districts of Dar es Salaam. The study involved 440 subjects divided equally from both groups sampled by multistage sampling technique. Pre-testing was conducted and data collection was done using a questionnaire and peak flow meter.
Results: Respiratory symptoms were found to be more prevalent in automobile spray painters than office workers. Among automobile spray painters, Cough 30.9% (n=68) and Wheezing 30.8% (n=67) were found to be most prevalent respiratory symptoms. The odds ratio (95% Confidence interval) of the spray painters to experience respiratory symptoms compared to Office workers was 8 (3.8 to16.5) for Shortness of breath (SoB), 14.5 (6 to 31.7) for Wheezing, 3.8 (1.7 to 8.6) for Cough, 5.1 (2.7 to 9.8) for Phlegm and 3.1 (1.4 to 6.3) for Cough with Phlegm. The mean peak expiratory flow rate value for painters was less 381.6 L/min ± 88.3 compared to office workers, 470.03 L/min ± 72.4 and the observed difference in mean was statistically significant (p<0.01). The use of relevant Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was found to be very low 25.3 % among the Automobile Spray Painters.
Conclusion: There was high prevalence of respiratory symptoms among automobile spray painters in comparison to the Office workers. Peak expiratory flow rate values were significantly lower in painters as compared to office workers. Despite the fact that half of painters reported using protective gears at workplace, the equipments used were inappropriate in protecting respiratory airways. Appropriate and all time use of protective equipment at work is recommended to the automobile spray painters to prevent respiratory illnesses.
