AUTHOR=Bicha Nigus , Gashaw Moges , Chanie Samuel Teferi , Mekie Melisew , Yalew Ermias Solomon 

TITLE=Burden of carpal tunnel syndrome and its associated factors among construction industry workers in Gondar town, Ethiopia

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1365124

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2024.1365124

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome has been defined as a complex of symptoms (i.e., pain, numbness, or tingling on the anterior surface of the index, middle, or radial half of the ring finger, frequently associated with weakness of hand grip, and nocturnal pain and/or numbness) resulting from compression of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel between carpal bones and the transverse ligament. The construction industry involves many types of activities aside from the building process, such as landscaping, painting, electrical supply, plastering, paving, and telecommunications. Working tasks involving repetition of wrist flexion and extension, forceful grip with the hand, and/or vibrations of the hand and arm. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome and associated risk factors among construction workers.Method: An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 6 construction sectors in Gondar from April to July 2021. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was prepared from the literature with a Kartz hand diagram and a physical examination and a special test (carpal compression test, Phalen's, and Tinel's test) was done for those participants who reported pain during the interview. Binary logistic regression was conducted with SPSS 25 to identify associated carpal tunnel syndrome risk factors. The strength of the association was detected by the adjusted odds ratio.Result: A total of 333 study Participants were incorporated in this study with the age range 18-70 years old. Among the participants 11.7% (AOR: 95%CI: 8.1-15.3) had carpal tunnel syndrome. Age, cigarette smoking, work experience, and using finger-pressing tools were significantly associated with carpal tunnel syndrome among construction workers with P<0.05.The magnitude of carpal tunnel syndrome was 11.7% among construction workers.Being older age, having more experience, cigarette smoking, and the worker using fingerpressing tools were significantly associated with carpal tunnel syndrome among construction workers. Employers should implement work safety education programs that raise awareness about the risks of cigarette smoking and encourage employers and supervisors to seek early medical intervention and treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome before it becomes a chronic problem.