Crude ORs (95% CI) of demographics, exposure status, medical and personal history and latex sensitisation and latex allergy among healthcare workers at King Edward VIII Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa, (n=501)
| Characteristics | N=29 | Latex sensitisation OR‡ (95% CI) | N=23 | LA† OR (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographics | ||||
| Age (years) | ||||
| ≤30 | 1 | 0.3 (0.0 to 1.9) | 1 | 0.4 (0.0 to 2.4) |
| >30–40 | 13 | 1.8 (0.8 to 3.7) | 11 | 2.0 (0.9 to 4.6) |
| >40–50 | 8 | 0.8 (0.4 to 1.8) | 7 | 0.9 (0.4 to 2.2) |
| >50 | 7 | 0.8 (0.4 to 2.1) | 4 | 0.6 (0.2 to 1.7) |
| Duration of employment (years) | ||||
| <5 | 3 | 0.7 (0.2 to 2.4) | 3 | 0.9 (0.3 to 3.2) |
| 5–10 | 16 | 2.6 (1.2 to 5.5)* | 14 | 3.3 (1.4 to 7.6)* |
| >10–15 | 3 | 0.7 (0.2 to 2.4) | 3 | 0.9 (0.3 to 3.2) |
| >15–20 | 1 | 0.4 (0.0 to 2.1) | 1 | 0.5 (0.0 to 2.8) |
| >20 | 6 | 0.5 (0.2 to 1.4) | 2 | 0.2 (0.0 to 0.8)* |
| Sex (yes) | ||||
| Female | 24 | 1.6 (0.6 to 4.1) | 20 | 2.2 (0.7 to 7.2) |
| Job title (yes) | ||||
| Administrative | 5 | 0.4 (0.2 to 1.1) | 3 | 0.3 (0.1 to 0.9)* |
| Professional nurses | 5 | 0.6 (0.2 to 1.6) | 4 | 0.6 (0.2 to 1.8) |
| Enrolled nurses | 14 | 2.5 (1.2 to 5.3)* | 11 | 2.4 (1.1 to 5.6)* |
| Enrolled nursing assistants | 5 | 1.2 (0.5 to 3.3) | 5 | 1.7 (0.6 to 4.5) |
| Latex exposure | ||||
| Exposure status (yes) | 24 | 2.4 (0.9 to 6.3) | 20 | 3.4 (1.1 to 10.8)* |
| Type of gloves | ||||
| None | 5 | 0.4 (0.2 to 1.0) | 3 | 0.3 (0.1 to 0.9)* |
| Exclusive Powdered latex glove (yes) | 2 | 0.9 (0.0 to 3.6) | 2 | 1.2 (0.0 to 1.7) |
| Exclusive Powder-free latex glove (yes) | 11 | 3.1 (1.4 to 6.8)* | 10 | 3.1 (1.7 to 9.1)* |
| Mixed gloves (yes) | 11 | 0.8 (0.4 to 1.8) | 8 | 0.7 (0.3 to 1.7) |
| Medical and personal history | ||||
| Personal history of allergy disease (yes) | 16 | 1.4 (0.7 to 3.1) | 12 | 1.3 (0.5 to 2.9) |
| Family history of allergy disease (yes) | 18 | 1.1 (0.5 to 2.4) | 14 | 1.1 (0.5 to 2.4) |
| Fruit allergy (yes) | 5 | 2.8 (1.0 to 7.5) | 5 | 3.7 (1.4 to 10.4)* |
| Previous open surgery (yes) | 18 | 1.1 (0.5 to 2.4) | 14 | 1.5 (0.7 to 3.1) |
χ2, *p<0.05.
†Latex skin prick test positive and work-related clinical symptoms of allergy.
‡Latex skin prick test positive.
LA, latex allergy.