Occupational diseases among hairdressers in Baghdad city

ABSTRACT

413 barber-shops were visited during the period from Dec. 1991 to Feb. 1992, in which 730 hairdressers worked [340 male, 390 female]. After analysis of the questionnaire, it was found that 60% of them had education less than high school and most of them [56%] were between 20-29 years of age. The pervalence rate of dermatological diseases among hairdressers was 32.6%, about half of which were contact dermatitis [15.3%]. It was also found that 20.3% of hairdressers had varicose veins [24.7% male, 16.4% female], and the prevalence rate increased with the duration of work. It was also found that 28.5% had cervical pain, 33.8% had upper backache, 42.6% had lower backache, 21.4% had wrist pain and 193% had metacarpo-phalangeal joint pain of the thumb. Recommendations were given to the health planner to enforce the regulation of health and safety among hairdressers