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Table 4 Prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms among paper and water bottling factories workers (N = 411)

From: Assessment of paper dust exposure and chronic respiratory symptoms among paper factory workers in, Ethiopia; a comparative cross-sectional study

Chronic respiratory symptoms

Paper factories N = 206

Control N = 205

PRcrude (95% CI)a

PRadj (95% CI)a

Cough n (%)

4 1(19.9)

13 (6.3)

3.1 (1.7–5.9) **

4.1 (1.7 – 9.8) *

Phlegm n (%)

37 (18)

11 (5.4)

3.4 (1.8–6.4) **

3.1 (1.1 – 8.3) *

Wheezing n (%)

39 (18.9)

9 (4.4)

4.3 (2.2–8.7) **

2.9 (1.2—6.8) *

Breathlessness n (%)

50 (24.3)

12 (5.9)

4.2 (2.3–7.6) **

3.0 (1.2 – 7.6) *

Nose irritating n (%)

67 (32.5)

17 (8.9)

3.9 (2.4–6.4) **

3.2 (1.6 – 6.3) **

Sneezing n (%)

64 (31.1)

15 (7.3)

4.3 (2.5–7.2) **

5.2 (2.8 – 9.5) **

Chest pain n (%)

35 (17)

10 (4.9)

3.5 (1.8–6.9) **

2.7 (1.0– 7.0) *

At least one chronic respiratory symptom n (%)

107 (51.9)

19 (9.3)

5.6 (3.6–8.8) **

6.0 (3.5–10.3) **

  1. PR Prevalence ratio, a = 95% confidence interval, * significant level at p < 0.05;** = p < 0.001; controls were employed in the water bottling factories