ASPECT EPIDEMIOLOGIQUE DE LA PERTE AUDITIVE CHEZ LES TRAVAILLEURS D’UNE INDUSTRIE AGROALIMENTAIRE A LOME AU TOGO

Abstract

Occupational deafness is a serious problem in the industrial world. The objective was to evaluate the auditory status of workers exposed to noise in a food company in Lomé, Togo. This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study that took place from December 1st, 2017 to June 30th, 2018. A sound level measurement made it possible to carry out noise mapping; audiometric tests for operators exposed to noise have been made. The data was analyzed with the Sphinx Plus2 software; the Chi2 test allowed comparisons with a significance level of 5%. A total of 183 workers, two of whom were female; the average age and seniority at the position was 40.4 ± 8.9 years and 7.4 ± 6.7 years. The noise level in the company ranged from 60 to 115dB (A); 25 of the 30 stations studied have a noise level ≥ 80dB. 37 cases (20.2%) of hearing loss were identified, 3 ofwhich were severe. Associated factors were age (p = 0.0024), seniority (p = 0.003), and non-wearing of PPE (p = 0.0015). The levels of noise and hearing loss among employees in this company in Togo are high, a focus should be on prevention