EVALUATION OF NOISE POLLUTION ON AUDIO-ACUITY AMONG SAWMILL WORKERS IN NNEWI METROPOLIS, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Chinelo Chidinma Chukwuma*, Edwin Okechukwu Nwobodo, Onoriode Akpoghene Eyeghre, Chekwube Martin Obianyo, Chukwudi Geoffery Chukwuma, Uzor Favour Tobechukwu and Nkoli Nwobodo

ABSTRACT

Noise pollution from occupation has gained ground in recent times, with its significant effect seen in auditory function. The study’s aim is to determine the level of noise pollution and Audio Acuity among sawmill workers. A descriptive cross-sectional study was employed using a convenient sample technique and a sample size of 100; comprising 50 sawmill workers who work at Nnewi Sawmill and 50 students of the College of Health Sciences, Nnewi Campus. An amplivox-116 audiometer was used to ascertain the audio acuity and a noise meter to measure the noise level. Data obtained were subjected to SPSS version 25 (IBM, USA, 2018), and analyzed using independent t-test and Pearson correlation, and values were significant at p<0.05. The result of the study showed significance (p<0.05) between study groups and control for anthropometric variables. A significant difference between the right and left ear audiometric test and noise level between study and control groups. Further, the duration of work and age was correlated with audio acuity. In conclusion, the study revealed that audiometric results of both left and right ears of sawmill workers had hearing impairment, which is associated with age and work duration.

Keywords: Audio acuity, Sawmill workers, Hearing impairment, Noise pollution, Occupational noise, Noise-induced hearing loss.