OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COLLECTORS IN HARAR TOWN, EASTERN ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

Background: Municipal solid waste collection is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world since it exposes the workers involved to occupational hazards and predisposes them to certain occupation related morbidities. Occupational morbidities related to solid waste management has not been adequately addressed in developing countries. More than 350,000 workers die each year due to injury, significant proportions occurring in low and middle-income countries. Moreover, there are few studies and unclear report in developing countries including Ethiopia regarding occupational injuries on municipal solid waste collectors. Furthermore, as far as my knowledge there was no study conducted in Harar Town. Objective: To determine the prevalence of occupational injuries and its associated factors among municipal solid waste collectors in Harar town, Eastern Ethiopia, from 25 May 2021 to 25 June, 2021. Method: A cross-sectional study design was used among 389 solid waste collectors. The study participants were selected by using a simple random sampling method. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaire and observational checklist by six data collectors and two supervisor. The collected data were entered into Epi Info version 7.2.4/2020 and then exported into SPSS version 20 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable analysis were used by using binary logistic regression to determine the association between independent variables and the outcome variable. In this study, P-value < 0.05 was considered as a cut off point to declare a result as statistically significant. Results: Prevalence of occupational injuries was found to be 60.4% (95% CI: 55.6, 65.1). Primary educational level [AOR= 0.10, 95%CI (0.03– 0.38)] and secondary education [AOR=0.04, 95%CI (0.03-0.45)], work experience [AOR=5.975, 95% CI (2.01-17.75)], utilization of personal protective equipments [AOR=0.09, 95% CI (0.02-0.46)], and trained solid waste collectors before employment [AOR=0.10, 95% CI (0.03-0.30)] were significantly associated with occupational injury. Conclusion and recommendations: The prevalence of occupational injury among solid waste collectors was high.Before and after hiring solid waste collectors, employers should give personal protective equipments (PPEs) and tailored training on saftey measures.