| Abstract |
Article Information:
Occupational Eye Injury Among Sawmill Workers in Nigeria
O.M. Uhumwangho, I. Njinaka, O.T. Edema, O.A. Dawodu and A.E. Omoti
Corresponding Author: Odarosa M. Uhumwangho
Key words: Occupational eye injury, sawmill workers, ocular trauma, , , , Vol. 2 , (5): 233-236 |
| Submitted |
Accepted |
Published |
| 2010 September, 30 |
2010 October, 23 |
2010 November, 10 |
To determine the prevalence and pattern of occupational ocular injuries in sawmill workers in
Nigeria. A cross-sectional study of sawmill workers was carried out using pretested questionnaires. Ocular
examination was done on site with a pen torch, portable hand-held slit lamp bio-microscope and direct
ophthalmoscope. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 16) was used to analyze the data obtained;
p<0.05 was taken as significant. A total of 553 saw mill workers were studied of which 449 (81.2%) and 104
(18.8%) were technical and administrative sawmill workers respectively. There were 496 (89.7%) males giving
a male to female ratio of 8.7:1. The mean age and standard deviation w as 38.9 years ± 12.8, respectively. The
prevalence of work related ocular trauma was 10.7% with the technical worker being more likely to develop
ocular injury than administrative worker (Odds ratio 15.3, p<0.001). Superficial foreign body, 42 (71.2%) was
the most common presentation while anterior uveitis, 12 (2.2%) was the most common ocular disorder arising
from trauma. Wood, 25 (42.4%) was the main agent implicated in the aetiology of the injury. Use of protective
eye wear was in 7 (1.6%) technical workers while monocular blindness arising from injury at work occurred
in 5 (0.9%) workers. Work related ocular injuries in sawmill workers in N igeria can be preventable if adequate
safety practices are enforced. |
Cite this Reference:
O.M. Uhumwangho, I. Njinaka, O.T. Edema, O.A. Dawodu and A.E. Omoti, 2010. Occupational Eye Injury Among Sawmill Workers in Nigeria.
Asian Journal of Medical Sciences, 2(5): 233-236. |
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ISSN (Online): 2040-8773
ISSN (Print): 2040-8765 |
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