Abstract
Background: Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is commonly caused by work-related hearing issues amongst workers in mining, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, foundries, and other similar industries. This research assessed the high prevalence of NIHL at mines in the Northwest in South Africa, using an active mine in Rustenburg as a case study. Objective: This study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with NIHL in mine workers at an active mine in Rustenburg, South Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at an active mine along a geological belt of the Bushveld Complex in Rustenburg. Primary data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire from 500 participants (> 18 years). Secondary data was collected from audiometric medical records for reviewing the same participants at the mine. The data management and analyses were performed using SPSS Version 26 software. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between NIHL and the medical information of the participants. Results: This study revealed that the risk factors for developing NIHL included being male (OR 2.96, 95% CI 1.89-4.66), grade 11 and below of education (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.5-4.33), grade 12 level of education (OR 6.56, 95% CI 4.04-10.63), miners (OR 6.56, 95% CI 4.04-10.63), work experience above 16 years (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.06-2.99), 86-90 dBA (OR 10.64, 95% CI 5.27.- 21.54), and 91-95 dBA exposure noise levels (OR 7.55, 95% CI 1.84-30.95), hearing problem (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.47-3.16), ringing in the ear experience (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.49-3.96), poor hearing of the normal speech (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.49-4.11), understanding what is NIHL (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.17-2.78), working hours above 8 hours (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.01-2.82), high noise levels at work site (OR 5.69, 95% CI 1.77-18.26), ringing ear (OR 2.66, 95% CI 1.80-3.94), fair on own opinion of hearing (OR 4.58, 95% CI 2.88-7.27), good on own opinion of hearing (OR 8.40, 95% CI 4.85-14.53) and a case of NIHL (OR 3.52, 95% CI 1.12-11.08). Conclusions: There are risk factors that are associated with NIHL at the active mine including gender, type of job, work experience, noise exposure levels. There is a need for education and motivation to minimize the hearing loss in the mines by both management and employees.
M.A. (Public Health)