Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2019;12(Suppl1):S101-S107.

The effect of working in an auto factory on functional constipation and bowel habits

Hadis Najafimehr  1 , Hosein Yadegari  2 , Hamed Taherinejad  2 , Khosrow Manhoie  2 , Seyed Ramin Rasooli  2 , Abbas Moradi  2 , Mohamad Javad Akbariju  2 , Hosein Mohseni  3 , Sabah Ghadimi  4 , Hamid Mohaghegh Shalmani  5
Affiliations

The effect of working in an auto factory on functional constipation and bowel habits

Hadis Najafimehr et al. Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench. 2019.

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the factors associated with functional constipation (FC) and to determine a normal range of bowel movement (BM) in an Iranian Auto factory's workers.

Background: The digestive system may be affected by workplace conditions. Some occupational conditions can affect the bowel habit and FC.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 3590 workers who worked in Tehran suburb in 2017 were evaluated. The workers worked in morning or rotatory shifts and in the official and non-official sections. In addition to demographic and stool frequency questions, workers were asked to complete the Rome IV Questionnaire.

Results: The normal range of BM frequency was determined between one and three per day. The BM frequency had a significant association with age (P=0.002), marital status (P=0.024), education (P=0.011), exposure to chemical materials (P<0.001), and work section (P<0.001). The total prevalence of FC was 9.7% which was greater among rotatory shift working than among only morning shift workers (10% vs 6%; P=0.02). Independent factors associated with FC were found as age (for 30- 40 years old: OR=1.88; 95% CI (1.20, 3.03) and for ≥41 years old: OR=1.91; 95% CI (1.12,3.17)), smoking (OR=1.52; 95% CI (1.20,1.93)) and work section (for Paint section: OR=0.33; 95% CI (0.12,0.87), for montage section: OR=0.44; 95% CI (0.18,1.10), for press & platform section: OR=0.12; 95% CI (0.05,0.37)).

Conclusion: Occupational condition may make a difference in bowel habit. Rotatory shift, official working, and smoking may increase the risk of constipation.

Keywords: Auto factory; Bowel movement; Constipation; Work shift.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

References

    1. Talley NJ. Functional gastrointestinal disorders as a public health problem. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2008;1:S121–9. - PubMed
    1. Lindberg G, Hamid SS, Malfertheiner P, Thomsen OO, Fernandez LB, Garisch J, et al. World Gastroenterology Organisation global guideline: Constipation--a global perspective. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2011;45:483–7. - PubMed
    1. Daniyam CA, Malu AO, Okeke EN, Lawal OO. Bowel habits of urban and rural populations on the Jos, Plateau, Nigeria. West Afr J Med. 2011;30:182–7. - PubMed
    1. Dukas L, Leitzmann MF, Willett WC, Colditz GA, Giovannucci EL. Association of bowel movement frequency and use of laxatives with the occurrence of symptomatic gallstone disease in a prospective study of women. Am J Gastroenterol. 2001;96:715–21. - PubMed
    1. Corazziari E, Staiano A, Miele E, Greco L. Bowel frequency and defecatory patterns in children: a prospective nationwide survey. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005;3:1101–6. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources