Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: October | Volume: 10 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 157-160
The Effect of Chronic Exposure to Loud Noise on Hearing in the Employees of Alasaad Steel Factory in Khartoum, Sudan
Abdelaziz OM1, Bashir AA2,3, Abdalla IM3,4
1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, International University of Africa, Sudan.
2Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Imam Al-Mahdi University, Sudan.
3Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, KSA.
4Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Gezira University, Sudan.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a common occupational hazard affecting workers at different noisy working places as well as recurrent ear infections.
Objectives: Is to determine the prevalence of NIHL among Alassad steel factory employees and to correlate its incidence with intensity, frequency and duration of exposure to loud noise. Design and settings: This was observational analytical case control study included 80 employees selected randomly from Al-asaad steel factory compared to a matched control of 80 employees selected randomly from International University of Africa (IUA). Personal interview was conducted. Sound level was measured using sound level meter. Hearing acuity was determined using audiometer. Data was analyzed using SPSS computer program. P value <0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The sound level at Alasaad steel factory was 92.31±7.85 dB while it was 67.00±0.00 dB at IUA. There was high prevalence of NIHL among Alasaad Factory employees than IUA (85% and 20% respectively, P value=0.001). The prevalence of bilateral NIHL was greater than unilateral NIHL (62.5%bilateral, 10% right ear and 12.5% for the left).There was positive correlation between the prevalence of NIHL and the sound level (P value =0.001). Almost all employees at Al-asaad steel factory did not use hearing protection device. NIHL was associated with recurrent ear infection, tinnitus and noisy head.
Conclusion: Exposure to loud sound at Alassad steel factory leads to high prevalence of NIHL among employees. Prevalence of NIHL was positively correlated to intensity, frequency and duration of noise exposure.
Key words: Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL), Chronic Exposure, Loud Noise, Alasaad Steel Factory, Khartoum, Sudan