An Investigation of the prevalence of voice problems among teachers in the Bekwai Municipality, Ashanti Region

Abstract

Teachers face one of the highest demands of any professional group to use their voices at work. Thus, they are at higher risk of developing voice problem than the general population. The consequences of voice disorder may have impact on teacher’s social and professional life as well as their mental, physical and emotional state and their ability to communicate. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of voice disorder and the relationship between voice disorder with associated risk factors such as teaching activities and lifestyle factors among teachers in Bekwai Municipality. A cross sectional study design was used for this study. A total of 100 full-time school teachers were invited to participate in the study. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire addressing the prevalence of voice disorder and potential risk factors. Descriptive analysis and chi-square test was used to measure the relationship between voice disorder and associated risk factors. Statistical test was used to measure the relationship between voice disorder and associated risk factors. The response rate for this study was 80% (80/100). The study found that the prevalence of voice disorder among teachers in Bekwai Municipality was 28.75%. Teachers (1.25%) sought medical care and eventually 47.5% had missed at least 1 day of work because of voice problems. This study strongly recommends that voice education course should be included into the new teacher training program that would provide basic knowledge about normal voice mechanism operation, voice disorders, their possible causes, and prevention.