Prevalence and factors associated with respiratory diseases and diarrhea in recyclable material cooperative workers in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil: a cross-sectional study, 2013

Objective: to analyze the prevalence of respiratory diseases and diarrhea among recyclable material cooperative workers in Sao Paulo City, Brazil, and associated factors. Methods: this was a cross-sectional study conducted in three cooperatives, with data collected through structured interviews and measurement of enviromnental fungal concentration; Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR). Results: 156 individuals were interviewed; the highest asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and diarrhea prevalence rates occurred in cooperatives with higher total fungal concentration; highest adjusted prevalence of asthma was found in Cooperative A (PR=8.44 - 95%CI 1.09;65.37), and highest adjusted prevalence of diarrhea was found in Cooperative C (PR=2.09 - 95%CI 1.11;3.94), compared to Cooperative B; the highest COPD prevalence was found in smokers and former smokers (PR=8.66 - 95% CI 2.84;26.35). Conclusion: fungal control measures must be adopted for disease prevention in recyclable material cooperatives.