Prevalence and risk factors of chronic respiratory symptoms in public and private school teachers in north-western Ethiopia: results from a multicentre cross-sectional study

BMJ Open · 4 authors, 2 centres

AI SUMMARY

FIDELITY 100%

POPULATION822 public and private school teachers in Gondar city, Ethiopia.

INTERVENTION

COMPARISON

This summary was generated by AI from a single paper. It has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not clinical advice. Verify against the source before acting on it.

AGENT 01 · STRUCTURED SUMMARY

TRACE TO SOURCE

“

TL;DR

A cross-sectional study of 822 teachers in Ethiopia found a high prevalence (31.14%) of chronic respiratory symptoms.

Full summary

645 CHARS

This multicentre cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence and risk factors of chronic respiratory symptoms among 822 school teachers in Gondar, Ethiopia, using a self-administered British Medical Research Council questionnaire. The total response rate was 97.4%. The prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms in the previous 12 months was 31.14%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified several risk factors: a family history of respiratory problems (AOR=1.90), overweight BMI (AOR=2.57), exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke at home (AOR=9.85), use of chalk (AOR=1.97), and failure to open windows during class (AOR=2.15).

PICO

PPOPULATION

822 public and private school teachers in Gondar city, Ethiopia.

OOUTCOME

Prevalence and risk factors of chronic respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, phlegm, wheezing, shortness of breath) in the previous 12 months.

STUDY TYPE

cross-sectional

SPECIALTY

epidemiology

SUMMARISED BY

AI pipeline

FIDELITY CHECK

100% · A

ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10106045

Prevalence and risk factors of chronic respiratory symptoms in public and private school teachers in north-western Ethiopia: results from a multicentre cross-sectional study

BMJ Open

READ THE FULL PAPER

ABSTRACT

Abstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of chronic respiratory symptoms among school teachers in Gondar city, north-western Ethiopia. Design A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2019. A self-administered British Medical Research Council Questionnaire was used to assess chronic respiratory symptoms. Data were entered into Epi Info V.7 and Stata V.14 was used for analysis. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with chronic respiratory symptoms. The association was determined using adjusted OR (AOR) with a 95% CI at a value of p<0.05. Setting The study was conducted in public and private schools in Gondar city. Participants A total of 822 teachers participated in this study. Outcome measures The primary outcome is the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms. Results The total response rate was 97.4%. The majority, 532 (64.7%) of the participants, were male. The mean age (±SD) of the respondents was 36.69 (±6.93) years. The total prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms in the previous 12 months among teachers in Gondar city was found to be 31.14% (95% CI 27.99% to 34.43%). A family history of respiratory problems (AOR=1.90; 95% CI 1.07 to 3.37), an overweight body mass index (AOR=2.57; 95% CI 1.57 to 4.21), exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke at home (AOR=9.85; 95% CI 4.77 to 20.33), use of chalk (AOR=1.97; 95% CI 1.25 to 3.09), and failure to open windows during class (AOR=2.15; 95% CI 1.02 to 4.52) were risk factors for chronic respiratory symptoms. Conclusion This study concluded that the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms was high among teachers. Making a smoking-free zone, avoiding smoking in public places, improving the ventilation conditions of the classrooms and controlling the chalk dust are all necessary actions to take to reduce chronic respiratory symptoms. Keywords: Respiratory tract tumours, Respiratory physiology, Respiratory infections, Epidemiology, RESPIRATORY MEDICINE (see Thoracic Medicine)

CITATION EXPORT

Amensisa Hailu Tesfaye, Mulat Gebrehiwot, Fantu Mamo Aragaw et al.. Prevalence and risk factors of chronic respiratory symptoms in public and private school teachers in north-western Ethiopia: results from a multicentre cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069159

AUTHORS

4 · 2 CENTRES

Amensisa Hailu Tesfaye, Mulat Gebrehiwot, Fantu Mamo Aragaw, Awrajaw Dessie

1Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
2Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia