The use of personal protective equipment is essential for preventing and controlling diseases experienced by poultry farm workers as respiratory ill health among poultry farm workers has been strongly associated with working in poultry farms. The current study was carried out to determine the respiratory health problems prevalent and the level of utilization of personal protective equipment among the poultry farm workers. The study was carried out between April and May 2018. A descriptive survey involving 400 poultry farm workers from 20 poultry farms recruited through a multistage sampling technique was carried out using semi-structured questionnaires for data collection. Chi square test was performed to determine the relationship between respiratory symptoms and duration of work years. From the study, Male workers were dominant and 50% of the respondents had worked in the poultry industry for 1-4 years. Use of nose masks stood at 40%; with respirators at an all low of 1%. Phlegm production and breathlessness was reported in 65% and 30% of the respondents respectively and of the respondents reported bronchial asthma as a preexisting health condition. The results have strong implication for the provision and enforcement of the use of appropriate PPE, establishment of occupational health services and improved poultry dust control in the poultry industry. | Respiratory health problems and use of personal protective equipment among poultry farm workers in Owerri senatorial zone, Nigeria
