Perception of the Quality of Life of Tobacco Growers Exposed to Pesticides: Emphasis on Health, Hearing, and Working Conditions

Abstract Introduction Tobacco farming exposes workers to various health risks due to the high application of pesticides needed to control pests, weeds and fungal diseases that prevent the tobacco plant growth. Objective To analyze the perception of the quality of life of tobacco growers exposed to pesticides, with emphasis on general health, hearing, and working conditions. Method This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study using a quantitative approach with farmers from southern Brazil. Data were collected from November of 2012 to November of 2014. For data collection, we opted for the 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) questionnaire, and a questionnaire with closed questions about health, hearing and working conditions. We evaluated a total of 78 subjects; the study group, made up of 40 tobacco farmers exposed to pesticides, and a control group of 38 participants without occupational exposure to pesticides. Both groups are residents of the same municipality, and users of the federal public health system. Results The results showed that tobacco growers had lower quality of life scores compared with the control group. Significant differences were observed in the areas of pain and general health. There were correlations between physical elements and chronic diseases; hearing complaints and a lack of personal protective equipment use, occupation and hearing complaints, as well as general health and hearing complaints. Conclusion Tobacco farming is a risky activity for general and hearing health, and it can impact the quality of life of those working in this field. (AU)

Caracterização dos limiares auditivos de odontólogos numa população da cidade de Curitiba - PR, Brasil / Caracterization from hearing thresholds from dentists in a poulation from Curitiba city / PR, Brazil

INTRODUÇÃO: Os odontólogos estão expostos ao ruído em seu local de trabalho, sendo susceptíveis para o desenvolvimento de perda auditiva sensorioneurais com características de induzida por ruído. OBJETIVO: Aanalisar os limiares auditivos de odontólogos caracterizando-os em relação ao gênero, idade e tempo de serviço. MÉTODO: A forma do estudo é corte transversal (ou seccional), prospectivo, que analisou os limiares auditivos de 115 odontólogos, através de audiometria tonal de 500Hz a 8000Hz por via aérea e via óssea. Foram analisados os limiares auditivos tonais do grupo de odontólogos por gênero, em relação à idade e tempo de serviço e aplicados procedimentos estatísticos para a edição dos dados. RESULTADOS: Observaram-se limiares auditivos tonais médios com configuração de entalhe acústico, sendo mais acentuados no gênero masculino. Há perda auditiva sensorioneural em 28(24,34%) odontólogos, 8 (14,54%) entre o gênero feminino e 20 (33,33%) entre o gênero masculino, a proporção de sujeitos com audição alterada é significativamente maior no gênero masculino (p=0,0208). Os limiares auditivos tonais para o gênero masculino apresentaram-se piores do que no feminino quando analisados por idade e tempo de serviço, porém os homens do estudo eram mais velhos e com mais tempo de serviço que as mulheres. CONCLUSÃO: Os odontólogos apresentaram perdas auditivas sensorioneurais com entalhe acústico (sendo mais presentes entre o gênero masculino) com piora auditiva com a idade e tempo de serviço, principalmente após 21 anos de trabalho.

INTRODUCTION: The dentists are exposed to noise in their work place, being likely to develop of hearing loss neurosensory with induced characteristics by noise. OBJECTIVE: Analyze the hearing thresholds from dentists characterizing them according to gender, age and time of service. METHOD: The form of the study is cross-section (or sectional), prospective, that analyzed the hearing thresholds from 115 dentists, through tone audiometry of 500 Hz to 8000 Hz by airway or bone conduction. Were analyzed the tonal hearing thresholds from the group of dentists by gender, regarding the age and time of service and applied statistical procedures for the edition of data. RESULTS: Were observed average tonal hearing thresholds with configuration from acoustic notch, being more accentuated in the male gender. There is sensorineural hearing loss in 28 (24,34%) dentists, 8 (14,54%) between female gender and 20 (33,33%) between the male gender, the proportion of subjects with altered hearing is significantly bigger in the male gender (p=0,0208). The tonal hearing thresholds for the male gender shown to be worse than in the females when analyzed by age and time of service, but the men were older and with more time of service than the women. CONCLUSION: The dentists presented sensorineural hearing loss with acoustic notch (being more present in the male gender) with worsening of hearing and time of service, especially after 21 years of work.