Prevalence and factors associated with work-related asthma among carpenters in Parakou, northern Benin

Aim: Woodworking exposes carpenters to a higher risk of developing asthma or worsening pre-existing asthma. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with work-related asthma (WRA) among carpenters in Parakou in 2024. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study with prospective data collection conducted from June to September 2024. Following a voluntary survey, the included carpenters were interviewed using the Occupational Asthma Screening Questionnaire-11 (OASQ-11) to assess the relationship between asthma symptoms and the occupational environment. Peak expiratory flow (PEF) variability and spirometry were also measured. Data were analyzed using R software version 4.4.1. Factors associated with WRA were identified using simple and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: Out of 153 carpenters/apprentices in 117 workshops, 144 (94.1%) were included, all of whom were male. The mean age was 35.9 ± 12.1 years. Among them, 15 (10.4%) had a WRA profile, including 10 (6.9%; 95% CI: 3.8–12.3) with occupational asthma and 5 (3.5%; 95% CI: 1.5–7.9) with work-aggravated asthma. Asthma was confirmed in 7 of the 15 carpenters suspected of having WRA through PEF variability measurement and spirometry. Simple and multiple logistic regression analyses identified a history of allergic rhinitis (aOR = 3.90; p = 0.033) and urticaria (aOR = 8.21; p = 0.002) as factors significantly associated with WRA. Conclusions: The prevalence of WRA among carpenters in Parakou is not negligible, particularly occupational asthma. Awareness campaigns, education for carpenters, regular monitoring of working conditions, and systematic medical follow-up of exposed workers could help preserve their respiratory health.