Prevalence of Respiratory Symptoms and Associated Risk Factors among Street Food Vendors in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Abstract

The street vendors in Malaysia are at an increased risk of developing respiratory symptoms owing to the continuous exposure to road dust, vehicle emissions, extreme weather conditions, and air pollutants from industrial sites. Hence, the current study aimed to establish the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and the risk factors associated with it among street food vendors in Klang Valley, Malaysia through a cross-sectional study among 237 street food vendors. The socio-demographic data, work characteristics, and information on respiratory symptoms were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The data analysis was done by using the Chi-square test of association and frequency distribution. The study results revealed that the most frequently reported respiratory symptoms among the street food vendors were sore throat (30.8%), followed by cough (29.1%). No significant association was found between age, gender, duration of job and cough, sputum production, breathing difficulty, chest pain, irritated nose, and sore throat. A statistically significant association was found between working hours and sputum production (p=0.014). Further, the working hours were significantly associated with breathing difficulty (p=0.011). A significant association was also found between the type of cooking fuel used and the presence of cough (p=0.001). Results of this study demonstrated a positive association between work-related risk factors such as working hours with breathlessness and sputum production, and also between cough and the type of cooking fuel used. Based on the aforementioned findings, various control measures such as regular monitoring of lung functions and health education programs can be undertaken. Moreover, vendors need to consider using clean fuels instead of charcoal.