Factors Associated With the Risk of Voice Disorders in Teachers From Urban and Rural Schools in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the association between the risk of voice disorders and sociodemographic, work, and general health factors in urban and rural school teachers.

Methods: This is an observational, cross-sectional, analytical study with 1705 teachers from urban schools and 202 from rural schools teaching elementary and high school in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The exclusion criteria were being retired or no longer teaching and/or not accepting to participate in the study. Data were collected using an electronic questionnaire sent to the school boards by the State Department of Education, which forwarded it to the teachers. The study variables were sociodemographic and occupational factors, mental health, voice-related factors, and the Screening Index for Voice Disorder, which defined their risk of voice disorder. Descriptive and association analyses were performed using Pearson's chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression, considering a 0.05 significance level.

Results: Voice disorders among urban school teachers were statistically significantly associated with sex, employment status, psychosocial aspects of work, common mental disorders (CMD), smoking, and vocal warm-ups. Moreover, both urban and rural school teachers were strongly statistically associated with sleep loss, respiratory problems, and gastroesophageal reflux.

Conclusion: The risk of voice disorders in urban and rural school teachers was associated with other health problems. In urban schools, being male, not smoking, being hired/designated, having a low-stress job or active work, not having CMD, and performing vocal warm-ups were protective factors for the risk of voice disorders.