Prevalence of Voice Disorders in Primary Level School Teachers of Nepal: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Introduction: Among professional voice users teachers are found to be at an exceptionally high risk of developing voice problems because of stress inherent in their occupation and the environmental conditions in which they work. In this pilot study conducted in the Terai region of Nepal we determine the prevalence of voice disorders in primary level school teachers and aetiological factors associated with it. Subjects and Methods: One hundred and thirty-seven teachers of primary level Government school of Morang district, Nepal irrespective of age and sex were enrolled in this study from December 2015 to November 2016 in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck, Nobel Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Biratnagar, Nepal. All were subjected to detail history, clinical examination including indirect laryngoscopy(IL) and flexible nasopharyngolaryngoscopy(NPL). Informed consent and ethical clearance was taken from the ethical board. Observation: Out of 137 teachers included in study the sex, age, teaching experience, materials used in classroom, noise, habits of teachers were studied in regards to prevalence of voice disorder and vocal nodule. Prevalence of voice disorders was (47%) and vocal nodule was (12%). There was strong statistical significance with gender, teaching experience, tobacco use and noise in class room with P value of < 0.05. Whereas increasing age of teachers has weak relation but significant P = 0.049. Conclusion: This study shows a high prevalence of voice disorders among teachers. There are various risk factors which are associated with it, some are non-modifiable such as age, gender. Some are modifiable such as tobacco use, noise in class-room and teaching duration.