article · Noise and Health
This study examined whether high levels of daytime occupational noise are linked to sleep problems amongst workers in Tanzania. Researchers compared 181 metal factory workers exposed to an average noise level of 97.9 dBA against 72 office cleaners exposed to 76.6 dBA. Participants completed interview-based questionnaires assessing sociodemographic details alongside standard metrics for insomnia and daytime sleepiness. Among the high-noise group, 40.3 percent reported insomnia and 39.8 percent experienced excessive daytime sleepiness, compared to 51.4 percent and 41.7 percent in the low-noise group. After adjusting for confounding factors such as age, marital status, education, smoking, alcohol, coffee intake, and daytime rest, statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in sleep outcomes between the two groups. The findings rely on self-reported data and require cautious interpretation.
Occupational noise is a widespread hazard in developing countries, yet its influence on sleep remains uncertain. Demonstrating that high daytime noise exposure did not directly correlate with increased insomnia or daytime sleepiness helps occupational health professionals better understand workplace stressors and highlights the necessity of investigating other environmental or lifestyle factors that affect worker rest.
The abstract does not indicate an application pathway, as it focuses entirely on observational occupational health research without presenting a product, service, or commercial tool.
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BACKGROUND: High noise levels during daytime work may cause sleep disturbances amongst workers, but research findings are inconclusive so far. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to compare sleep amongst workers exposed to high and low daytime noise during work in a developing country, where workplaces often have high noise levels. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 181 metal industrial workers (high-noise-exposed workers) and 72 office cleaners (low-noise-exposed workers) in Tanzania. The average noise levels were 97.9 and 76.6 dBA for the high- and low-noise-exposed workers, respectively. An interview-based questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, sleep variables, the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) and the Bergen insomnia scale (BIS). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, Pearson chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean BIS score for high-noise-exposed workers was 13.2, with 40.3% reporting insomnia and 39.8% reporting excessive daytime sleepiness (ESS ≥ 11). The low-noise-exposed workers had a mean BIS score of 15.4, with 51.4% reporting insomnia and 41.7% reporting excessive daytime sleepiness. The crude odds ratio (OR) of insomnia when exposed to high noise was 1.56 (95% CI = 0.90-2.718, P = 0.111), and the crude OR for excessive daytime sleepiness was 1.08 (95% CI = 0.62-1.88, P = 0.782). Insomnia and daytime sleepiness were not different between groups when adjusting for age, marital status, education, smoking, alcohol, coffee consumption and daytime rest periods. CONCLUSION: No differences were found between daytime high- and low-noise-exposed workers in relation to self-reported sleep variables. The results must be interpreted with caution due to the use of self-reports and possible unmeasured confounders.
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DOI: 10.4103/nah.nah_107_25
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