Multivariate analysis of demographics, medical and personal history, exposure history and latex sensitisation (LS)* and latex allergy (LA)† among healthcare workers at King Edward III Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa (n=501)
| Characteristics| | Model I‡ (n=501) | Model II§ (n=501) | Model III¶ (n=202) | Model IV**(n=252) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LS OR (95% CI) | LA OR (95% CI) | LS OR (95% CI) | LA OR (95% CI) | LS OR (95% CI) | LA OR (95% CI) | LS OR (95% CI) | LA OR (95% CI) | |
| Demographics | ||||||||
| Sex (female) | 0.9 (0.2 to 2.7) | 1.1 (0.3 to 4.4) | 0.9 (0.3 to 2.7) | 1.1 (0.3 to 4.5) | 0.3 (0.0 to 1.8) | 0.3 (0.0 to 3.1) | 2.5 (0.5 to 12.2) | 2.5 (0.5 to 12.2) |
| Duration of employment (years) | 0.9 (0.9 to 1.0) | 0.9 (0.8 to 0.9) | 0.9 (0.9 to 1.0) | 0.9 (0.8 to 0.9) | 0.9 (0.9 to 1.8) | 0.7 (0.5 to 1.0) | 0.9 (0.9 to 1.0) | 0.9 (0.9 to 1.0) |
| Latex exposure | ||||||||
| Exposure status (yes) | 2.2 (0.7 to 6.7) | 2.6 (0.7 to 9.8) | ||||||
| Type of gloves | ||||||||
| None | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Exclusive lightly powdered latex glove (yes) | 1.6 (0.3 to 9.8) | 2.6 (0.4 to 17.7) | ||||||
| Exclusive powder-free latex glove (yes) | 4.2 (1.2 to 14.1) | 5.1 (1.2 to 21.2) | ||||||
| Mixed gloves (yes) | 1.7 (0.5 to 5.6) | 1.7 (0.4 to 7.1) | ||||||
| Pairs of powdered latex gloves in the last 7 days | 1.1 (1.0 to 1.2) | 1.2 (1.0 to 1.4) | ||||||
| Pairs of powder-free latex gloves in the last 7 days | 1.0 (0.9 to 1.1) | 1.0 (0.9 to 1.1) | ||||||
| Personal and medical history | ||||||||
| Personal history of allergy disease (yes) | 1.5 (0.7 to 3.3) | 1.4 (0.6 to 3.2) | 1.5 (0.7 to 3.3) | 1.3 (0.6 to 3.2) | 1.4 (0.3 to 6.8) | 1.6 (0.2 to 11.6) | 1.0 (0.4 to 2.9) | 0.9 (0.3 to 2.8) |
| Family history of allergy disease (yes) | 1.0 (0.45 to 2.2) | 0.9 (0.4 to 2.2) | 1.1 (0.5 to 2.3) | 0.9 (0.4 to 2.3) | 0.4 (0.1 to 1.9) | 0.5 (0.1 to 3.6) | 0.7 (0.2 to 2.0) | 0.8 (0.3 to 2.7) |
| Fruit allergy (yes) | 2.3 (0.8 to 6.7) | 3.1 (1.1 to 9.2) | 2.2 (0.8 to 6.5) | 3.0 (0.9 to 9.1) | 5.0 (0.4 to 56.9) | 9.7 (0.6 to 163.0) | 1.7 (0.3 to 8.5) | 2.0 (0.4 to 10.4) |
| Previous open surgery (yes) | 2.0 (0.9 to 4.4) | 1.9 (0.8 to 4.6) | 2.1 (0.9 to 4.6) | 1.9 (0.8 to 4.7) | 1.4 (0.3 to 7.4) | 1.2 (0.1 to 11.1) | 1.1 (0.4 to 3.2) | 1.2 (0.4 to 3.8) |
*Latex skin prick test positive.
†Latex skin prick test positive and work-related clinical symptoms of allergy.
‡Model included latex glove exposure status.
§Model included type of gloves.
¶Model included number of pairs of powdered latex gloves.
**Model included number of pairs of powder-free latex gloves.