Abstract
Lesotho is amongst the top 20 countries with the highest Tuberculosis and TB/HIV incidence rates globally. It is also one of the countries with high percentages of employment in the textile sector. This study sought to understand the prevalence of Tuberculosis (TB) in the textile occupation workplace, the focus being on the contributory factors that lead to its prevalence in the textile industry. The overall hypothesis of the study was that Tuberculosis prevalence increases among textile workers in Maseru, Lesotho, due to the length of time worked and type of work performed in the industries, and socio-demographic and environmental factors that favour its increase. This study examined the relationship between the gender, age, the amount of time individuals have been working in the textile industries, the activities they perform per job description, and Tuberculosis among the workers. The time intervals that were studied included 1-3 years interval, 4-6 years and 7-10 years. The activities studied were sewing, ironing, marking, cutting, checking, printing, cleaning, packing and administration. The study used a cross sectional design. The population included all the workers of the three textile firms under study which according to the managers of the textile firms is 922 workers out of Lesotho’s population of 2.2 million people. The study had a sample of 601 participants with 2 clusters of 311 textile workers and 290 general community members of Maseru, Lesotho. Data was collected using close-ended questionnaires. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software; Pearson’s chi-square tests were conducted to examine the relationships between variables under study. Binary logistic analyses were conducted to assess the strengths of the associations. Textile workers were found to be more likely to contract Tuberculosis than non- textile workers. Age was found to increase the susceptibility of one to acquiring TB when working in the textile industries. Textile workers who cohabit were most likely to be TB positive. The length of time a person works in the textile industry was found to contribute to the susceptibility of workers to TB. Textile workers in the checking, marking, printing, ironing, and cleaning departments were found to be the most susceptible to TB. Environmental conditions; dust; damp air; lack of fresh air; cotton dust and overcrowding were found to be alarming risk factors for TB when working in the textile industries. Recommendations were made for primary health care facilities to be setup as part of the textile firms and workers should be given regular health education particularly on TB. Workers who are TB positive should be given mandatory leave in order to avoid infections in the workplace.
M.A. (Public Health)