Occupational Health Hazards among Hairdressers in Benha City

Background: A hairdresser centers is a place where a woman can have haircut and styled in order to look more attractive. Hairdressers are exposed to many irritative and allergenic substances, which may cause health problems. Aim of the study: This study was conducted to assess occupational health hazards among hairdressers in Benha City. Setting : The present study was conducted at hairdresser centers at Benha City. Sample: A convenient sample was utilized in this study. Thirty-five hairdressers' centers with the total number of 175 hairdressers. Tools of data collection : two tools were used, Tool (I): It was comprised three main parts. A: composed of socio- demographic characteristics and job characteristics. B: It was concerned with common health problems that could be occur among hairdressers. C: It was concerned with the studied hairdressers' knowledge about occupational health hazards and preventive measures, Tool (II): Observational checklist to assess hairdresser's practices to protect themselves. Results: There were highly statistical significant relation between total knowledge level among studied hairdressers and their age and marital status (P ≤ 0.001), while there was statistically significant relation between total knowledge level among studied hairdressers and their educational level (P< 0.05) there was no significant relation between total knowledge level among studied hairdressers and there living place. Also, there was no statistical significant relation between total reported practice level among studied hairdressers and their age, educational level, marital status and residence. Finally, there was statistically significant positive correlation between total reported practice level of studied hairdressers and their total knowledge level. Conclusion: Three quarters of the studied hairdressers had occupational health problems and more than two fifth of the studied hairdressers had average knowledge about occupational health hazards .And most of the studied hairdressers had unsatisfactory reported practices regarding prevention of occupational health hazards during work. Recommendations: Health education program should be developed and implemented for all hairdressers about occupational health hazards and the methods of prevention.