Abstract:
Introduction: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are contributed to absenteeism from workplace and early retirement from profession. Currently work-related musculoskeletal disorder is becoming serious emerging public health challenges in low and middle-income countries including Ethiopia. However, there is paucity of evidence on its magnitude and associated factors in Ethiopia, particularly in study setting. Therefore this study was aimed to assess the magnitude of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and its associated factors among healthcare providers at selected public hospitals in Arsi Zone, South-East, Ethiopia from July 1, to July 30, 2023.
Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 549 healthcare providers in Arsi Zone from July 1, to July 30, 2023. The study participants were selected using a simple random sampling method. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire using the standard Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. The collected data was entered into Epidata version 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Descriptive and bivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Variables with a P-value ≤ 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval in the multivariable model were considered statistically significant. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval and a P-value ≤ 0.05 were reported.
Results: Five hundred forty nine questionnaires distributed and 534 healthcare providers returned questionnaires which makes response rate of 97.3%. A 12-month prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders at usually at risk body site was 70.2% with 95% CI (66.4-74.2). Lifting or transferring dependent patients[AOR: 3.093(1.906-5.018)], bed bath [AOR: 2.602 (95% CI: 1.541-4.395)], prolonged standing [AOR: 1.795(95% CI: 1.126-8.580)], bending in awkward position for long time [AOR: 1.566 (95% CI: 1.018-2.408)], lack of availability of materials for patients manual handling in working unit/ward [AOR: 1.376 (95% CI: 1.108-5.227)], and reaching or working away from your body [AOR: 2.248 (95% CI: 1.054-4.794)] were factor significantly associated with work related musculoskeletal disorders among health care providers.
Conclusion: Seven out of ten healthcare providers in Arsi zone public hospitals had work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Factors such as lifting patients, bed bath, prolonged standing, bending in awkward position , reaching or working away from the body , and lack of materials were associated with these disorders. Hence, in service sustenance training on safe patient handling and ergonomics and creating conducive working environment were recommended.
