Reproductive Hormone Profiles and Infertility Risk in Heat-Exposed Female Kitchen Workers in Ilorin, Nigeria
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Date
2024-11-26
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Scientific Research and Innovation
Abstract
The kitchen environment is considered as a potential risk area of heat stress and the kitchen workers are likely
victims of infertility disorders due to heat stress. Unlike many other causes of infertility in black communities,
hormonal factors have been least researched. This study aimed to investigate the effect of heat stress on female
reproductive hormones and FBG among female kitchen staff working within the Ilorin metropolis. It was a
cross-sectional comparative study. A purposive sampling technique was used to draw 80 participants
comprising 40 female kitchen staff and 40 non-kitchen staff (control). Semi-structured questionnaire was used
to obtain information while 5mls of blood was collected from each subject through venipuncture to estimate
hormones. Hormones were estimated by ELISA technique while data were analysed using SPSS. Data were
significant at p≤0.05. Results revealed that FSH (p=0.01) and progesterone (p=0.039) increased significantly
while oestrogen (p<0.0001) and FBG (p<0.0001) decreased significantly compared to the control. A
significant correlation was seen between marital status and prolactin level (p=0.02). Also, a significant
correlation was found between parity and prolactin levels (p=0.01). LH (p=0.003) and FBG (p=0.01) increased
significantly while prolactin level decreased significantly (p=0.02) in participants exposed to combined heat
sources compared to others, indicating a significant correlation between sources of heat and the hormones and
FBG. The length of occupation as a kitchen staff also had a significant association with the oestrogen level
(0.003). The drastic increase in FSH and progesterone levels, along with the tremendous decrease in oestrogen
and FBG, indicates a potential threat to fertility in female kitchen staff.
Keywords: Heat, female kitchen staff, reproductive hormones.