Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36608035›Full record

ArticlePloS one2023

Using mobile audiometry (Wulira App) to assess noise induced hearing loss among industrial workers in Kampala, Uganda: A cross-sectional study.

Charles Batte, Immaculate Atukunda, Andrew Weil Semulimi, Mariam Nakabuye, Festo Bwambale, Joab Mumbere, Nelson Twinamasiko, David Mukunya, Israel Paul Nyarubeli, John Mukisa

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact, top 100% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed, 0 citations in OpenAlex.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Charles BatteLung Institute, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.ORCID 0000-0003-0351-8705
Immaculate AtukundaDepartment of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.ORCID 0000-0002-7989-673X
Andrew Weil SemulimiLung Institute, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.ORCID 0000-0003-0588-1559
Mariam NakabuyeLung Institute, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Festo BwambaleDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
Joab MumbereDepartment of Information, Technology and Communications, Wulira Health Limited, Kampala, Uganda.ORCID 0000-0002-9568-6265
Nelson TwinamasikoLung Institute, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.ORCID 0000-0003-3716-1468
David MukunyaDepartment of Community and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Busitema University, Mbale, Uganda.ORCID 0000-0002-3892-9777
Israel Paul NyarubeliSchool of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.ORCID 0000-0003-1506-0076
John MukisaDepartment of Immunology and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.ORCID 0000-0002-9208-0313
Makerere University · UGBusitema University · UGMuhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences · TZMulago Hospital · UG

Funding

Training in noncommunicable diseases epidemiological, data science and Implementation Science research to strengthen evidence-based interventions, policy and control in Uganda.D43TW011401 · FIC · MAKERERE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES · PI Charles Batte, William Checkley · 2019 to 2026
$1.8M
FIC NIH HHS D43 TW011401
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOccupational noise is a common cause of hearing loss in low-income countries. Unfortunately, screening for hearing loss is rarely done due to technical and logistical challenges associated with pure tone audiometry. Wulira app is a valid and potentially cost-effective alternative to pure tone audiometry in screening for occupational hearing loss. We aimed to determine the prevalence of occupational hearing loss among workers in a metal industry company in Kampala district. METHODOLOGY: We recruited 354 participants conveniently from a steel and iron manufacturing industry in Kampala. All eligible participants answered a pretested and validated questionnaire and were assessed for noise induced hearing loss in a quiet office room approximately 500 meters from the heavy machinery area using the Wulira app. Descriptive statistics such as proportions were used to describe the study population while inferential statistics were used to determine associations.

resultsOf the 354 participants sampled, 333 (94.1%) were male, and the median age was 27, IQR (25-30). Regarding the risk factors of hearing loss, fourteen (3.9%) had history of smoking and more than half (65.5%) had worked in the industry for more than 2 years. The overall prevalence of hearing loss among industrial workers was 11.3% (40/354). 16.2% and 9% had mild hearing loss in the right and left ear respectively. Bilateral audiometric notch was present where fourteen (4%) of the participants had notch in their right ear while seven (2%) had notch in their left ear. Residing outside Kampala district was associated with hearing loss (OR, 95% CI, 0.213 (0.063-0.725), p = 0.013).

conclusionOne in 10 workers in a metal manufacturing industry in Kampala had occupational hearing loss. Industrial workers residing outside Kampala were likely to develop hearing loss. Periodic screening should be done for early detection and intervention to prevent progression of hearing loss in this population.

Indexed as

DeafnessHearing Loss, Noise-InducedMobile ApplicationsNoise, OccupationalOccupational DiseasesOccupational ExposureAdultAudiometryAudiometry, Pure-ToneCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleUganda

Identifiers

PMID36608035
PMCPMC9821776
OpenAlexW4313639521

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.