Work environment and hypertension in industrial settings in Benin in 2019: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between occupational factors, particularly psychosocial factors, and hypertension. DESIGN: Descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study using logistic multivariate regression. SETTING: Fifteen cotton ginning plants in Benin. PARTICIPANTS: Permanent and occasional workers in the cotton ginning industry. DATA COLLECTION: Data on sociodemographic, occupational, behavioural and clinical history characteristics were collected using a number of standardised, interviewer-administered questionnaires. These questionnaires were based on the WHO's non-communicable disease questionnaire, Karasek questionnaire and Siegrist questionnaire. Weight, height and blood pressure were measured. Any worker with systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg according to the WHO criteria was considered hypertensive, as was any subject on antihypertensive treatment even if blood pressure was normal. RESULTS: A total of 1883 workers were included, with a male to female ratio of 9.08. Of these, 510 suffered from hypertension (27.1%, 95% CI 25.1 to 29.2). In the multivariate analysis, the risk factors identified were occupational stress (adjusted OR (aOR)=3.96, 95% CI 1.28 to 12.2), age ≥25 years (aOR=2.77, 95% CI 1.55 to 4.96), body mass index of 25-30 kg/m2 (aOR=1.71, 95% CI 1.32 to 2.2), body mass index >30 kg/m2 (aOR=2.74, 95% CI 1.84 to 4.09), permanent worker status (aOR=1.66, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.41) and seniority in the textile sector >5 years (aOR=2.18, 95% CI 1.7 to 2.8). Recognition at work emerged as an effect-modifying factor subject to stratification. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational factors, particularly job strain and recognition at work, are modifiable factors associated with hypertension in the ginning plants sector and deserve to be corrected through occupational health promotion and prevention.

Occupational stress in industry setting in Benin 2019: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Occupational stress is a psychosocial risk in the workplace. Working conditions in industrial settings may lead to occupational stress. In Benin, however, there is little epidemiological data on occupational stress in industrial settings. We aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with occupational stress in industrial settings in Benin in 2019. METHODS: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study conducted from January 31 to April 11, 2019, among 15 cotton ginning plants. Sampling was exhaustive for permanent workers and stratified in clusters by shift for occasional cotton gin workers. Data were collected through Karasek and Siegrist questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using R software. Binary multivariable logistic regression was performed. The significance level was p < 0.05. RESULTS: Of 1883 workers included, 90.8% were male. The median age was 38 years (IQR: 28 years to 49 years). The prevalence of occupational stress was 77.7% (95% CI: 75.8-79.6). Psychological demand was high in 93.0% of workers and 83.9% had low decision latitude. Among the workers, 16.3% had low social support and 89.9% had a low recognition score at work. Factors associated with occupational stress were: being an occasional vs. permanent worker (aOR 6.43, 95% CI 4.18 to 9.88); age less than 38 years (aOR 0.55, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.76); high intensity physical activity at work (aOR 1.33, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.73); working in production vs. administration (aOR 1.59, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.45); spending fewer than 4 years at the current work location (aOR 1.60, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.44); and scoring low for recognition at work (aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.23). Noise exposure and being a shift worker were significant in univariable analysis, but not multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: Occupational stress is very common among workers in industrial settings. The implementation and evaluation of preventive measures against these risk factors is necessary.

[Prevalence and factors associated with low back pain among motorcycle drivers in Porto-Novo (Benin)]. / Prévalence et facteurs associés à la lombalgie chez les conducteurs de taxi moto à Porto-Novo (Bénin).

INTRODUCTION: low back pain is a major health problem in the workplace. Some populations of workers appear to be much more exposed than others. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and the factors associated with the occurrence of low back pain among motorcycle drivers in Porto-Novo. METHODS: we conducted a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study of 270 consenting motorcycle drivers with at least one year of seniority. Patients were asked to complete the Nordic Questionnaire adapted to our context and physical examination of the spine was performed. Data were analyzed using Epidata 3.1. Software and STATA/IC 11.0. The threshold significance level was 5% and the confidence intervals were 95%. RESULTS: the prevalence of low back pain was 68.89%. The average age of motorcycle drivers was 42.43 ±11.25 [25-64]years. The majority of them had been driving for more than 5 years (93.33%). Drivers spent an average of more than 8 hours (93.34%) driving per day and 68.52% of them drove over 160km per day. Low back pain was mechanical in 91.39% of cases. It was characterized by sudden onset in 81.73% of cases. Pain was moderate in 55.91% of drivers, evolving in acute pain in 46.24% of drivers and without radiation in 62.36% of cases. Age, education level, stress, posture, condition of motorcycle shock absorbers were associated with low back pain in these motorcycle drivers (p < 0.001). By contrast, distance travelled, job duration, seniority and road conditions were not associated with the occurrence of low back pain. CONCLUSION: low back pain is a serious public health problem in particular among motorcycle drivers in our country where riding a motorcycle is becoming more and more a work to bring assistance to the population facing growing unemployment. Hence the need to address factors associated with effective prevention.