Knowledge on the Effects and Perceived Health Problems of Noise Experienced among Members of Staff and Students in University of Ibadan

Abstract

There is a growing concern on the increase of noise induced hearing impairment in developing nations. Academic settings have been reported to be plagued by noise levels that affect cognitive activities. However, there is paucity of information on the level of knowledge on the effects of noise and the reported health problems in an academic setting in Nigeria. Hence, this study was designed to assess the knowledge on the health effects and perceived health problems of noise experienced among member of staff and students in University of Ibadan, Nigeria. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 400 respondents (173 members of members of staff (MS) and 327 students), selected using stratified random sampling technique. Questionnaire elicited information on respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge on the effects of noise in an academic setting and perceived health problems related to noise exposure experienced, six weeks prior to the survey. Descriptive statistics and Chi- square were used for data analysis at 95% level of significance. The mean age of respondents was 25.3±8.0 years and 50.9% of the respondents were males. The knowledge of community noise among respondents was 93.2% and 93.9% for MS and students respectively. Ninety percent (90%) of male respondents and 96.9% of female respondents had good knowledge of community noise. Less than half of MS (47.9%) and students (38.7%) reported having experienced symptoms during exposure to high noise levels. Above one-third MS (36.8%) and students (35.3%) asserted they experienced headache, while, 10.5% MS and 12.5% students reported dizziness. A few MS (1.2%) and students (6.4%) affirmed that they had experienced symptoms of ear pain, though, above one-fifth of MS (23.7%) and one-fourth of students (25%) reported having experienced tingling in the ears. A high level of awareness on the effects of community noise exists. Noise attenuation plan to reduce the perceived health problems is advocated.

Keywords: Academic setting, Noise attenuation plan, Hearing impairment