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Sociodemographic correlates of occupational, recreational and firearm noise exposure among adults in the USA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2020

A P Knewitz
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri, USA
M C Simpson
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri, USA
D A Harris
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri, USA
J M Sappington
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri, USA
N Osazuwa-Peters*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 3635 Vista Avenue, 6FDT, St Louis, MO63110-2539, USA E-mail: [email protected] Fax: +1 (314) 268 7401

Abstract

Objective

To determine sociodemographic factors associated with occupational, recreational and firearm-related noise exposure.

Methods

This nationally representative, multistage, stratified, cluster cross-sectional study sampled eligible National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participants aged 20–69 years (n = 4675) about exposure to occupational and recreational noise and recurrent firearm usage, using a weighted multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

Thirty-four per cent of participants had exposure to occupational noise and 12 per cent to recreational noise, and 13 per cent repeatedly used firearms. Males were more likely than females to have exposure to all three noise types (adjusted odds ratio range = 2.63–14.09). Hispanics and Asians were less likely to have exposure to the three noise types than Whites. Blacks were less likely than Whites to have occupational and recurrent firearm noise exposure. Those with insurance were 26 per cent less likely to have exposure to occupational noise than those without insurance (adjusted odds ratio = 0.74, 95 per cent confidence interval = 0.60–0.93).

Conclusion

Whites, males and uninsured people are more likely to have exposure to potentially hazardous loud noise.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2020

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Footnotes

Dr N Osazuwa-Peters takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

Presented in part at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo, 10–14 November 2018, San Diego, California, USA.

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