Y Abebe1, M Fantahun. 1. Department of Physiology, Gondar College of Medical Sciences, Ethiopia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the length and quality of sleep among shift workers at Bahir Dar textile mill. DESIGN: A cross sectional study using structured questionnaire that contained sociodemographic variables, duration of work, work schedule, number of sleeping hours, sleep disorders, and associated reasons for such disorders. SETTING: A textile mill in Bahir Dar, northwest Ethiopia. SUBJECTS: Three-hundred ninety four random sample of production workers of the mill. OUTCOME MEASURES: Sleep disorders, and the impact of external and home environment on sleep. RESULTS: The mean duration of work in the factory was 25.4 +/- 7.1 years. Ninety-seven per cent of the study population work in a rotating eight hourly shift system. The mean number of hours a worker sleeps after a worked shift was 5.1 +/- 2.3. Two hundred thirty (58.4%) claimed to experience a sleep disorder. Sleep disturbance was significantly associated with rotating shift work, external environmental noise, and working in the spinning department. CONCLUSION: The majority of the workers in Bahir Dar textile mill experienced sleep disturbances as detailed in the study methodology.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the length and quality of sleep among shift workers at Bahir Dar textile mill. DESIGN: A cross sectional study using structured questionnaire that contained sociodemographic variables, duration of work, work schedule, number of sleeping hours, sleep disorders, and associated reasons for such disorders. SETTING: A textile mill in Bahir Dar, northwest Ethiopia. SUBJECTS: Three-hundred ninety four random sample of production workers of the mill. OUTCOME MEASURES: Sleep disorders, and the impact of external and home environment on sleep. RESULTS: The mean duration of work in the factory was 25.4 +/- 7.1 years. Ninety-seven per cent of the study population work in a rotating eight hourly shift system. The mean number of hours a worker sleeps after a worked shift was 5.1 +/- 2.3. Two hundred thirty (58.4%) claimed to experience a sleep disorder. Sleep disturbance was significantly associated with rotating shift work, external environmental noise, and working in the spinning department. CONCLUSION: The majority of the workers in Bahir Dar textile mill experienced sleep disturbances as detailed in the study methodology.