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. 2020;35(4):304-309.
doi: 10.5222/MMJ.2020.82246. Epub 2020 Dec 25.

Respiratory Symptoms Among Domestic Waste Collectors

Loganathan Salvaraji  1 , Mohammad Saffree Jeffree  1 , Richard Avoi  1 , Hazelina Mohd Akhir  1 , Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim  1 , Khamisah Awang Lukman  2
Affiliations

Respiratory Symptoms Among Domestic Waste Collectors

Loganathan Salvaraji et al. Medeni Med J. 2020.

Abstract
in English, Turkish

Objective: Increasing amount of waste concurrently increases the risk of exposure to hazardous materials among waste collectors. Vigorous exertion in the field intensifies the abundance of contaminated inspirable droplets. If left undetected and untreated, it may provoke significant pernicious health effects and redundant burdens to employees and employers. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and their associated factors among domestic waste collectors.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah between January and April 2020. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire which encompasses details about sociodemographic, health status, environment, and employment characteristics.

Results: A total of 290 waste collectors with a mean age of 40 (±9) years old were participated in the study. Most of them were from Kadazan-Dusun-Murut ethnic origin with educational background till secondary school. The average monthly income of the workers was USD 298.45 (±171.9) per month, and they had been in service for 11 (±9.04) years. Respiratory symptoms were seen in 21% of the workers. The identified significant risk factors were determined as underlying chronic diseases (OR=2.34; 95% CI=1.054, 5.219) and contact with pets (OR=1.87; 95% CI=1.004, 3.288).

Conclusion: Respiratory symptoms are prevalent amidst domestic waste collectors and related to their health and field activities.

Amaç: Artan miktarda atık, atık toplayıcılar arasında tehlikeli maddelere maruz kalma riskini de aynı zamanda artırır. Sahada aşırı çalışma, kontamine damlacıkların solunma sıklığını artırır. Tespit edilmezse ve tedavi olunmazsa, önemli zararlı sağlık sorunlarına, çalışanlar ve işverenler üzerinde yüklere neden olabilir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, evsel atık toplayıcıları arasında solunum semptomlarının yaygınlığını ve ilişkili etkenleri belirlemektir.

Yöntem: Ocak-Nisan 2020 döneminde Kota Kinabalu, Sabah’da kesitsel bir çalışma gerçekleştiril-miştir. Veriler, sosyodemografik değişkenler, sağlık durumu, çevre ve istihdam özellikleri ile ilgili ayrıntıları içeren geçerliği sağlanmış bir anket kullanılarak toplanmıştır.

Bulgular: Ortalama yaşı 40 (±9) olan toplam 290 atık toplayıcı araştırmaya katılmıştır. Çoğu ancak ortaokula kadar eğitimli olan, Kadazan-Dusun-Murut etnik kökenli kişilerdir. İşçilerin aylık ortalama geliri 298,45 ABD doları (±171,9) olup, 11 (±9,04) yıldır hizmet vermektedirler. So-lunum semptomlarının yaygınlığı %21 çıkmıştır. Araştırmada önemli risk faktörleri, altta yatan kronik hastalığı olma (OR=2.34; %95 CI=1.054, 5.219) ve evcil hayvanlarla temas (OR=1.87; %95 CI=1.004, 3.288) olarak belirlenmiştir.

Sonuç: Solunum semptomları evsel atık toplayıcılar arasında yaygındır ve bunlar kişilerin sağlık durumları ve sahadaki etkinlikleri ile ilişkilidir.

Keywords: Waste collectors; occupational epidemiology; respiratory systems.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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