Prevalence of asthma symptoms and associated factors among cleaners at a medical school hospital in Bangkok

Abstract

Background: Cleaning is one of the high-risk occupations related to chemical exposure at work. Cleaners are exposed to several chemicals causing occupational asthma. The studies on the prevalence and its associated factors of asthma symptoms among cleaners in Thailand are however limited.

Objectives: To study the prevalence of asthma symptoms and its associated factors among cleaners working at a medical school hospital in Bangkok.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 340 cleaners between June and December 2022. All subjects completed a questionnaire on demographic characteristics, occupational variables, environmental variables, and respiratory symptoms. We performed descriptive analysis. The asthma symptoms and their associated variables were examined using bivariate and logistic regression analyses.

Results: The response rate was 94.4%. The prevalence of asthma symptoms is 16.2% (55 of 340 cleaners). Adjusted by other related factors, multiple logistic regression revealed that the asthma symptom was significantly associated with household secondhand smoking exposure (OR 4.13, 95.0% CI: 2.12 - 8.02), allergic rhinitis (OR 4.08, 95.0% CI: 2.00 - 8.30), molds in the house (OR 2.40, 95.0% CI: 1.11 - 5.16), smoking (OR 2.77, 95.0% CI: 1.29 - 5.96), and working in a kitchen (OR 2.18, 95.0% CI: 1.10 - 4.31).

Conclusion: Cleaners are more likely to have asthma symptoms than the general population. Medical surveillance in high-risk groups, health education for reducing risk factors such as smoking cessation, and appropriate personal protective equipment should be supported at the workplace.