Occupational health hazards of woodsmoke and use of personal protective equipment among fish smokers in Abuesi.

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. 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 (Adjusted Odd Ratio; AOR= 16.95[95% CI; 6.08 – 47.36]), absence of safety measures (AOR = 1.93, [CI = 0.72– 5.05]) and frequent fish smoking (Adjusted Odds Ratio; AOR= 0.22, [CI= 0.08 – 0.63], p-value = 0.004 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 Personal Protective Equipments such as goggles, safety boots, nose masks and aprons. Furthermore, 6% they had received information on measures regarding the nature of their work, largely through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture 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