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. 2008 Feb 19;9(2):119–128. doi: 10.1007/s10194-008-0024-z

Prevalence and burden of primary headache in Akaki textile mill workers, Ethiopia

Getahun Mengistu Takele 1,✉, Redda Tekle Haimanot 1, Paolo Martelletti 2
PMCID: PMC2276239  PMID: 18283416

Abstract

Headache disorders are the most common complaints worldwide. Migraine, tension-type and cluster headaches account for majority of primary headaches and impose a substantial burden on the individual, family or society at large. The burden is immense on workers, women and children in terms of missing work and school days. There are few studies that show relatively lower prevalence of primary headaches in Africa as compared to Europe and America. There might be many reasons for this lower prevalence. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and burden of primary headaches among the Akaki textile factory workers, which may provide data for the local and international level toward the campaign of lifting the burden of headache worldwide. The overall 1-year prevalence of all types of primary headaches was found to be 16.4%, and that of migraine was 6.2%. The prevalence of migraine in females was 10.1% while it was 3.7% in males. The prevalence of tension-type headaches was found to be 9.8%. This was 16.3 % in females as compared to 5.7% in males. The burden of the primary headaches in terms of lost workdays, gross under recognition and absence of effective treatment is tremendous. In conclusion, the prevalence of primary headaches in the Akaki textile mill workers is significant, particularly in females, and the burden is massive, in a place of poverty and ignorance. We recommend the availability and administration of specific therapy to the factory workers with primary headaches, and community based well-designed study for the whole nation’s rural and urban population.

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Acknowledgments

This epidemiological work represents the final dissertation held at the Master in Headache Medicine by Dr. Getahun Mengistu Takele, during the Academic year 2006–2007 at Sapienza University of Rome. Dr. Mengistu’s scholarship has been granted by Sapienza University (0010959–2.2.4.1.40.2 to the author P.M.) in favor of the WHO’s Global Campaign Lifting the Burden. The author G.M.T. is indebted to Dr. Worash Getaneh, geologist from Addis Ababa University, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences for his ever-unreserved effort in accessing the Internet and encouraging the first author. He did allow his office and personal computer use day and night and sacrificed his time despite many commitments. We thank also Dr. Mihela Zebenigus, neurologist in the Department of Neurology of Addis Ababa University for her continuous support. Finally we are grateful to the participants and management of Akaki textile without which this study would not have been successful.

Conflict of interest

None.

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