Meira Tatiane Costa, Santana Vilma Sousa, Ferrite Silvia
Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
Rev Saude Publica. 2015;49. doi: 10.1590/S0034-8910.2015049005708. Epub 2015 Oct 20.
To analyze whether sociodemographic, occupational, and health-related data are associated with the use of hearing protection devices at work, according to gender.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2006, using a random sample of 2,429 workers, aged between 18 and 65 years old, from residential sub-areas in Salvador, BA, Northeastern Brazil. Questionnaires were used to obtain sociodemographic, occupational, and health-related data. Workers who reported that they worked in places where they needed to shout in order to be heard were considered to be exposed to noise. Exposed workers were asked whether they used hearing protection devices, and if so, how frequently. Analyses were conducted according to gender, with estimates made about prevalence of the use of hearing protection devices, prevalence ratios, and their respective 95% confidence intervals.
Twelve percent (12.3%) of study subjects reported that they were exposed to noise while working. Prevalence of the use of hearing protection devices was 59.3% for men and 21.4% for women. Men from higher socioeconomic levels (PR = 1.47; 95%CI 1.14;1.90) and who had previous audiometric tests (PR = 1.47; 95%CI 1.15;1.88) were more likely to use hearing protection devices. For women, greater perceived safety was associated with the use of protection devices (PR = 2.92; 95%CI 1.34;6.34). This perception was specifically related to the presence of supervisors committed to safety (PR = 2.09; 95%CI 1.04;4.21), the existence of clear rules to prevent workplace injuries (PR = 2.81; 95%CI 1.41;5.59), and whether they were informed about workplace safety (PR = 2.42; 95%CI 1.23;4.76).
There is a gender bias regarding the use of hearing protection devices that is less favorable to women. The use of such devices among women is positively influenced by their perception of a safe workplace, suggesting that gender should be considered as a factor in hearing conservation programs.
根据性别分析社会人口统计学、职业和健康相关数据是否与工作中使用听力保护装置有关。
2006年进行了一项横断面研究，从巴西东北部巴伊亚州萨尔瓦多市居民区随机抽取了2429名年龄在18至65岁之间的工人作为样本。通过问卷调查获取社会人口统计学、职业和健康相关数据。报告在工作场所需要大声呼喊才能让人听见的工人被视为暴露于噪声环境。询问暴露于噪声环境的工人是否使用听力保护装置，若使用，使用频率如何。按性别进行分析，估计听力保护装置的使用 prevalence、prevalence ratios及其各自的95%置信区间。
12.3%的研究对象报告在工作时暴露于噪声环境。男性使用听力保护装置的 prevalence为59.3%，女性为21.4%。社会经济水平较高的男性（PR = 1.47；95%CI 1.14；1.90）以及之前进行过听力测试的男性（PR = 1.47；95%CI 1.15；1.88）更有可能使用听力保护装置。对于女性而言，更高的安全感与使用保护装置有关（PR = 2.92；95%CI 1.34；6.34）。这种安全感具体与致力于安全的主管的存在（PR = 2.09；95%CI 1.04；4.21）、存在明确的预防工作场所伤害的规则（PR = 2.81；95%CI 1.41；5.59）以及她们是否了解工作场所安全情况（PR = 2.42；95%CI 1.23；4.76）有关。
在使用听力保护装置方面存在性别偏见，对女性不利。女性对听力保护装置的使用受到她们对安全工作场所的认知的积极影响，这表明在听力保护计划中应将性别视为一个因素。
