Tinnitus and Occupational Noise Exposure among Informal Generator Technicians: Insights from a Nigerian Pilot Study

Background Tinnitus is a common auditory complaint in chronically noise-exposed individuals and may signal early cochlear dysfunction. In low-resource urban settings where informal work environments dominate, its burden and predictors remain poorly defined. This study explored the prevalence and correlates of tinnitus among generator technicians in Northern Nigeria. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 73 male generator-repair workers aged 14–57 years. Structured interviews, pure-tone audiometry, and otoacoustic emission (OAE) testing were used to assess sociodemographic factors, noise exposure, and auditory outcomes. Logistic regression identified independent predictors of tinnitus. Results Prevalence of tinnitus was 45.2%. Significant bivariate associations included marital status (p < 0.001), ≥10 years occupational exposure (p = 0.003), audiometric hearing loss (p = 0.026), and OAE failure (p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, prolonged occupational exposure (aOR = 4.44) increased odds of tinnitus, while preserved OAE function was protective (aOR = 0.099) for tinnitus. Conclusion Tinnitus is prevalent among informal generator workers and is strongly linked to prolonged exposure and subclinical cochlear dysfunction. Incorporating OAE screening and hearing health education into community-based programs may enable early detection and prevention of auditory damage in underserved settings.