Exposición Laboral al ruido en el área de Neonatología del Hospital Gineco-obtétrico Isidro Ayora en la ciudad de Quito-Ecuador, en el periodo de enero-marzo 2021

Abstract

Noise is a sound that causes discomfort and is one of the most important issues to be addressed in the field of occupational health, and exposure to high levels for a prolonged period of time can cause damage to health, from hearing impairment to physiological and psychological problems, affecting the worker's decision making. The purpose of this study is to quantify the sound pressure to which the personnel of the neonatology area of the Isidro Ayora Gynecological and Obstetric Hospital is exposed, and to know if the personnel and patients are overexposed to the permitted noise levels. Objectives: To determine the values in decibels A, to which the personnel of the Neonatology area of the Isidro Ayora Gynecological and Obstetric Hospital are exposed during the period January-March 2021. To detect noise pollution through the use of the "Digital Sound Lever Meter" model FJ: 2679920, and to establish the area of greatest acoustic risk for the personnel. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional observational study was carried out to determine the A decibels to which health personnel working in the neonatology area of the Isidro Ayora Gynecological and Obstetric Hospital are exposed. Results: After taking the measurements, it was observed that health personnel are overexposed to sound pressure levels that exceed 80 dB A, determined by the NTP 270 guide, ranging from 92.07 to 106.84 dB A, and an equivalent monthly exposure level (160 hours) is observed, with ranges from 92.32 to 94.62 dB A. In addition, we can see with the isophones map that the rooms with the highest sound pressure are the intensive care areas NICU 1 and 2. Conclusion: This study shows an overexposure to noise, with values that exceed 80 dB A of the permitted norms according to the technical standard NTP 720. A more exhaustive analysis is recommended for each work station by means of a dosimeter and personal protective hearing equipment.