Occupational health hazards of wood smoke and use of personal protective equipment among fish smokers in Abuesi.
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Date
September, 2019
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Abstract
This study assessed the occupational health hazards of the use of wood as biomass fuel by fish
processors within the Abuesi fish landing site, Western Region of Ghana. The study was carried
out from February to December 2017 with 356 fish mongers interviewed using semi-structured
interview guides. Results from the study showed that majority of the respondents were exposed to
smoke related health disease (90 %), indicating a higher prevalence rate among fish mongers while
a few (10 %) reported no incidence of smoke related health symptom. Coughing (51 %), eye
disease (17 %), headache (11 %) and respiratory disease (11 %) were some of the symptoms
reported by the fishmongers during the study period. Smoking for more than 3 hours (AOR= 16.95,
[CI= 6.075 – 47.357]), absence of safety measures (AOR = 1.926, [CI = 0.725 – 5.049]) and
frequent fish smoking (AOR= 0.220, [CI= 0.078 – 0.625], p-value < 0.05 were the significant
factors that increase the vulnerability of respondents to smoke related health symptoms. Majority
of the respondents (93.1 % to 96.3 %) indicated they do not use PPE such as goggles, safety boots,
nose masks and aprons. Furthermore, 6% they had received information, largely through the
MOFA and Hen Mpoano. There is high rate of vulnerability to smokes related health diseases due
to the presence of some significant factors. Epidemiological research with itemized exposure
assessments and clinical proportions of these disease symptoms is required in Ghana to validate
the findings of this study.
Description
A thesis submitted to College of Health and Allied Sciences School of Public Health.
Keywords
Health, Hazards, protective, Abuesi