{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]],"date-time":"2026-09-10T04:07:01Z","timestamp":1789013221390,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,16]],"date-time":"2021-05-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1621123200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Although the effect of hearing loss on years lived with disability (YLD) is quite substantial, occupational hearing loss among migrant workers is significantly under-studied. In Kuwait, where nearly two-thirds of the population are migrant workers, the burden of occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) is unknown. The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of ONIHL among migrant workers in Kuwait and explore workplace and individual risk factors that are associated with ONIHL. We obtained data of annual physical exams for the year 2018 conducted by the Shuaiba Industrial Medical Center (SIMC) for all industrial workers in the area. We applied univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to estimate the effects of individual and occupational characteristics on ONIHL. A total of 3474 industrial workers visited the SIMC for an annual exam. The vast majority were men (99%) and non-Kuwaitis (98%) with a median age of 38 years. A total of 710 workers were diagnosed with ONIHL with a prevalence of 20.4%. Age, years of experience, and self-reported exposure to noise were associated with statistically significant higher odds of ONIHL. When adjusted for age, years of experience, and other individual level factors, type of industry was not a statistically significant predictor of ONIHL. The study uncovers the significant burden of hearing loss among the migrant worker subpopulation in Kuwait, an area of occupational health that is often underestimated or unrecognized. Although laws and regulations are in place to prevent and control noise in the workplace, the onus is on local authorities to ensure the necessary training and controls aimed to reduce noise exposure.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18105295","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,16]],"date-time":"2021-05-16T23:17:16Z","timestamp":1621207036000},"page":"5295","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":15,"title":["Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss among Migrant Workers in Kuwait"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"given":"Mariam","family":"Buqammaz","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental &amp; Occupational Health, Faculty of Public Health, Kuwait University, Hawalli 13110, Kuwait"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3345-2065","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Janvier","family":"Gasana","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental &amp; Occupational Health, Faculty of Public Health, Kuwait University, Hawalli 13110, Kuwait"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9523-9537","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Barrak","family":"Alahmad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental &amp; Occupational Health, Faculty of Public Health, Kuwait University, Hawalli 13110, Kuwait"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mohammed","family":"Shebl","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Occupational Health, Ministry of Health, Shuwaiba Industrial Medical Center, Ahmadi 60000, Kuwait"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dalia","family":"Albloushi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital (MKH), Ministry of Health, Hawalli 47060, Kuwait"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"International Labour Office (1984). Protection of Workers against Noise and Vibration in the Working Environment, International Labour Office. [3rd ed.]. Available online: https:\/\/www.ilo.org\/wcmsp5\/groups\/public\/---ed_protect\/---protrav\/---safework\/documents\/normativeinstrument\/wcms_107878.pdf."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (2021, May 06). The Impact of Noise at Work. Belgium, Available online: https:\/\/osha.europa.eu\/en\/publications\/factsheet-57-impact-noise-work."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1142","DOI":"10.18203\/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20183690","article-title":"Effects of occupational noise on quality of life","volume":"4","author":"Otoghile","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Otorhinolaryngol. Head Neck Surg."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"(2021, May 06). Loud Noise Dangers. Available online: https:\/\/www.asha.org\/public\/hearing\/loud-noise-dangers\/#:~:text=Sounds%20at%2085%20dBA%20can,for%20up%20to%208%20hours."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12199-020-00906-0","article-title":"An overview of occupational noise-induced hearing loss among workers: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, and preventive measures","volume":"25","author":"Chen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Environ. Health Prev. Med."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"446","DOI":"10.1002\/ajim.20223","article-title":"The global burden of occupational noise-induced hearing loss","volume":"48","author":"Nelson","year":"2005","journal-title":"Am. J. Ind. Med."},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2019, May 01). Loud Noises Damage Hearing, Available online: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/media\/dpk\/injury-violence-safety\/noise-induced-hearing-loss\/hearing-loss.html."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"151","DOI":"10.3766\/jaaa.18.2.7","article-title":"A systematic review of health-related quality of life and hearing aids: Final report of the American Academy of Audiology Task Force on the health-related quality of life benefits of amplification in adults","volume":"18","author":"Chisolm","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Am. Acad. Audiol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"293","DOI":"10.1001\/jamaoto.2014.42","article-title":"Hearing impairment associated with depression in US adults, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005\u20132010","volume":"140","author":"Li","year":"2014","journal-title":"JAMA Otolaryngol. Head Neck Surg."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"671","DOI":"10.1080\/13607863.2014.915924","article-title":"Hearing loss and dementia\u2014Who is listening?","volume":"18","author":"Lin","year":"2014","journal-title":"Aging Ment. Health"},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"Friis, R. (2019). Essentials of Environmental Health, Jones & Bartlett Learning. [3rd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e011923","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2016-011923","article-title":"Noise-induced hearing loss in a longitudinal study of Norwegian railway workers","volume":"6","author":"Lie","year":"2016","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"PACI (2019). The Public Authority for Civil Information, Government of Kuwait."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"351","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-publhealth-040617-013714","article-title":"Migrant workers and their occupational health and safety","volume":"39","author":"Moyce","year":"2018","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1300\/J096v10n04_04","article-title":"Hearing loss in migrant agricultural workers","volume":"10","author":"Rabinowitz","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Agromed."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"584","DOI":"10.1177\/1010539515600007","article-title":"Migrant workers in Asia Pacific and their rights to health","volume":"27","author":"Low","year":"2015","journal-title":"Asia Pac. J. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"285","DOI":"10.21608\/ejom.2018.6811","article-title":"Work-Related Accidents Referred to Industrial Medical Center, Kuwait, From 2015 To 2017","volume":"42","author":"Samir","year":"2018","journal-title":"Egypt. J. Occup. Med."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Le Prell, C., Henderson, D., Fay, R., and Popper, A. (2012). Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: Scientific Advanced, Springer Handbook of Auditory Research, Springer Science.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-4419-9523-0"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"498","DOI":"10.1097\/JOM.0000000000001423","article-title":"Occupational noise-induced hearing loss","volume":"60","author":"Mirza","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Occup. Environ. Med."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"577","DOI":"10.1007\/s00420-010-0606-3","article-title":"A retrospective analysis of noise-induced hearing loss in the Dutch construction industry","volume":"84","author":"Leensen","year":"2011","journal-title":"Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health"},{"key":"ref_21","first-page":"103","article-title":"Noise-induced hearing loss\u2014A preventable disease? Results of a 10-year longitudinal study of workers exposed to occupational noise","volume":"19","author":"Frederiksen","year":"2017","journal-title":"Noise Health"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"248","DOI":"10.1007\/s101620020028","article-title":"Dynamics of noise-induced cellular injury and repair in the mouse cochlea","volume":"3","author":"Wang","year":"2002","journal-title":"J. Assoc. Res. Otolaryngol."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"504","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02114761","article-title":"Appearance of free radicals in the guinea pig inner ear after noise-induced acoustic trauma","volume":"252","author":"Yamane","year":"1995","journal-title":"Eur. Arch. Oto Rhino Laryngol."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"255","DOI":"10.1111\/coa.12362","article-title":"Is it reasonable to use 1 and 8 kHz anchor points in the medico-legal diagnosis and estimation of noise-induced hearing loss?","volume":"40","author":"Ali","year":"2014","journal-title":"Clin. Otolaryngol."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7127","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.95.12.7127","article-title":"Acoustic overstimulation increases outer hair cell Ca2+ concentrations and causes dynamic contractions of the hearing organ","volume":"95","author":"Fridberger","year":"1998","journal-title":"Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"552","DOI":"10.1038\/nrm1150","article-title":"Regulation of cell death: The calcium\u2013apoptosis link","volume":"4","author":"Orrenius","year":"2003","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"410","DOI":"10.3109\/14992020903527616","article-title":"Otoacoustic emissions in a hearing conservation program: General applicability in longitudinal monitoring and the relation to changes in pure-tone thresholds","volume":"49","author":"Helleman","year":"2010","journal-title":"Int. J. Audiol."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"711","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amjmed.2010.02.015","article-title":"Prevalence and Characteristics of Tinnitus among US Adults","volume":"123","author":"Shargorodsky","year":"2010","journal-title":"Am. J. Med."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"EU 2003\u2014EU (2003). Directive 2003\/10\/EC on the Minimum Health and Safety Requirements Regarding Exposure of Workers to the Risks Arising from Physical Agents (Noise), European Union."},{"key":"ref_30","first-page":"1","article-title":"Occupational exposure to chemicals and hearing impairment","volume":"44","author":"Johnson","year":"2010","journal-title":"Arbete Och Halsa"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"41","DOI":"10.1186\/s40463-017-0219-x","article-title":"Current insights in noise-induced hearing loss: A literature review of the underlying mechanism, pathophysiology, asymmetry, and management options","volume":"46","author":"Le","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Otolaryngol. Head Neck Surg."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"68","DOI":"10.4103\/1463-1741.95134","article-title":"Early occupational hearing loss of workers in a stone crushing industry: Our experience in a developing country","volume":"14","author":"Kitcher","year":"2012","journal-title":"Noise Health"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.5334\/aogh.2352","article-title":"Prevalence of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss among Textile Industry Workers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania","volume":"85","author":"Abraham","year":"2019","journal-title":"Ann. Glob. Health"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1179\/2049396714Y.0000000084","article-title":"Prevalence of noise induced hearing loss among woodworkers in Nepal: A pilot study","volume":"21","author":"Robinson","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. J. Occup. Environ. Health"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"326","DOI":"10.1002\/ajim.22827","article-title":"Hearing loss among older construction workers: Updated analyses","volume":"61","author":"Dement","year":"2018","journal-title":"Am. J. Ind. Med."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.21608\/ejcm.2016.858","article-title":"Occupational noise-induced hearing loss and hypertension: A cross-sectional study among dry food factory workers","volume":"34","author":"Eldin","year":"2016","journal-title":"Egypt. J. Community Med."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"565","DOI":"10.1007\/s00420-005-0623-9","article-title":"Hearing loss among operating engineers in American construction industry","volume":"78","author":"Hong","year":"2005","journal-title":"Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"House, R., Sauv\u00e9, J., and Jiang, D. (2010). Noise-induced hearing loss in construction workers being assessed for hand arm vibration syndrome. Can. J. Public Health, Available online: https:\/\/www.jstor.org\/stable\/41995446.","DOI":"10.1007\/BF03404378"},{"key":"ref_39","first-page":"40","article-title":"CDC research on non-occupational NIHL","volume":"70","author":"Carroll","year":"2017","journal-title":"Heart J."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"670","DOI":"10.1002\/ajim.22082","article-title":"Prevalence of hearing loss in the United States by industry","volume":"56","author":"Masterson","year":"2013","journal-title":"Am. J. Ind. Med."},{"key":"ref_41","unstructured":"Wegman, D., and McGee, J. (2004). Health and Safety Needs of Older Workers, National Academies Press."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e002995","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjgh-2020-002995","article-title":"COVID-19 stressors on migrant workers in Kuwait: Cumulative risk considerations","volume":"5","author":"Alahmad","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMJ Glob. Health"},{"key":"ref_43","unstructured":"KEPA (2001). Decision No. 210\/2001, Environment Public Authority."},{"key":"ref_44","unstructured":"KEPA (2020). Decision Number (4) for the Year 2020, Environment Public Authority."},{"key":"ref_45","unstructured":"(2021, February 25). Ministerial Resolution No. (208) of 2011, Available online: https:\/\/www.manpower.gov.kw\/docs\/LaborLaw\/18.pdf."},{"key":"ref_46","unstructured":"CDC, and NOISH (2020, July 14). A Model Hearing Conservation Program, Available online: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/niosh\/mining\/userfiles\/workshops\/hlp1\/03-byrneconservationprograms.pdf."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"176","DOI":"10.1002\/lary.21185","article-title":"Prospective, randomized controlled assessment of the short- and long-term efficacy of a hearing conservation education program in Canadian elementary school children","volume":"121","author":"Neufeld","year":"2011","journal-title":"Laryngoscope"},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"26","DOI":"10.1080\/15459620601067209","article-title":"Noise exposure and hearing conservation in U.S. coal mines\u2014A surveillance report","volume":"4","author":"Joy","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Occup. Environ. Hyg."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.18043\/ncm.78.2.113","article-title":"Preventing noise-induced hearing loss","volume":"78","author":"Royster","year":"2017","journal-title":"North Carol. Med. J."},{"key":"ref_50","first-page":"CD006396","article-title":"Interventions to prevent occupational noise-induced hearing loss","volume":"7","author":"Tikka","year":"2017","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst. Rev."}],"container-title":["International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/18\/10\/5295\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T06:02:17Z","timestamp":1760162537000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/18\/10\/5295"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,16]]},"references-count":50,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,5]]}},"alternative-id":["ijerph18105295"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph18105295","relation":{"has-preprint":[{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.21203\/rs.3.rs-334342\/v1","asserted-by":"object"}]},"ISSN":["1660-4601"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1660-4601","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,16]]}}}