Occupational noise exposure and hearing loss: A study of knowledge, attitude and practice among Tanzanian iron and steel workers

Figures & data

Table 1. Descriptive characteristics of the participants and their association with KAP in the study among Tanzanian iron and steel workers (N = 253).

		KAP distribution
Descriptive		Knowledge^†		Attitude^‡		Practice^§
Variable	Frequency (%)	Good [n (%)]	Mean score [mean (SD)]	Positive [n (%)]	Mean score [mean (SD)]	Good [n (%)]	Mean score [mean (SD)]
Age: Mean (SD)	32 (8)
Factory identification
Factory A	71 (28.1)	8 (11.3)	9.1 (3.3)	27 (38.0)	48.5 (9.2)^††	5 (7.0)	13.8 (2.1)^††
Factory B	57 (22.5)	4 (7.0)	9.5 (2.9)	52 (91.2)	57.1 (4.5)	3 (5.3)	13.6 (1.8)
Factory C	61 (24.1)	7 (11.5)	9.0 (3.1)	51 (83.6)	56.2 (6.1)	7 (11.5)	13.9 (3.3)
Factory D	64 (25.3)	4 (6.3)	9.0 (3.2)	61 (95.3)	58.5 (5.1)	0	12.1 (0.2)
Total	253 (100.0)	23 (9.1)	9.1 (3.1)	191 (75.5)	54.8 (7.7)	15 (5.9)	13.3 (2.3)
Age group (years)
18–27	89 (35.2)	11 (12.4)	9.0 (3.4)	61 (68.5)	53.9 (8.3)	7 (7.9)	13.5 (2.7)
28–35	84 (33.2)	7 (8.3)	9.3 (3.1)	63 (75.0)	54.6 (7.9)	3 (3.6)	13.0 (2.0)
36–64	80 (31.6)	5 (6.3)	9.0 (2.9)	67 (83.8)	56.1 (6.7)	5 (6.3)	13.4 (1.9)
Duration of work (years)
≤2	105 (41.5)	10 (9.5)	9.2 (3.1)	79 (75.2)	55.0 (8.0)	7 (6.7)	13.2 (2.1)
3–10	117 (46.2)	12 (10.3)	9.0 (3.3)	87 (74.4)	54.6 (7.9)	6 (5.1)	13.3 (2.5)
11–37	31 (12.3)	1 (3.2)	9.0 (2.4)	25 (80.6)	55.8 (6.1)	2 (6.5)	13.8 (2.0)
Education level
Primary education	169 (66.8)	16 (9.5)	9.2 (3.0)	136 (80.5)^¶	55.7 (6.9)^#	7 (4.1)	13.1 (1.8)^#
Secondary and tertiary education	84 (33.2)	7 (8.3)	9.0 (3.4)	55 (65.5)	53.0 (8.9)	8 (9.5)	13.8 (2.9)

^†Knowledge score (as a percentage) categorized as Good (≥75%/poor < 75%); ^‡attitude score (as a percentage) categorized as positive (≥75%/negative < 75%).

^§practice score (as a percentage) categorized as Good (≥50%/poor < 50%); ^¶Chi-square test, statistically significant at p < 0.05.

^#independent samples t-test, statistically significant at p < 0.05.

^††One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Post-hoc Turkey HSD test, statistically significant at p < 0.05.

Table 2. Determinants for attitude and practice in a KAP study among 253 iron and steel factory workers in Tanzania.

Determinant	Attitude		Practice
	β	95%, CI	β	95%, CI
Factory identification
Factory A	Ref.		Ref.
Factory B	12.91*	11.89, 13.93	–0.10	–0.70, 0.49
Factory C	11.71*	10.75, 12.68	0.35	–0.21, 0.91
Factory D	15.19*	14.22, 16.16	–4.39*	–4.96, –3.83
Education level
Primary education	Ref.		Ref.
Secondary and tertiary education	–0.94*	–1.71, –0.17	1.33*	0.88, 1.78

*Multiple linear regression, statistical significant at p < 0.05.

Figure 1. Knowledge score (as a percentage) regarding noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) (causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention) for various items in 253 iron and steel workers in Tanzania. The correct answer for each item is indicated by Y = yes and N = no.

Figure 2. Attitude score (as a percentage) for noise exposure and control, noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), audiometry and wearing of hearing protection devices for various items in 253 iron and steel workers in Tanzania. The correct answer is indicated in a box following each statement, where SD = Strongly disagree and SA = Strongly agree.

Figure 3. Percentage score for 13 items used for assessment of workers’ practice in a study among 253 iron and steel workers in Tanzania.