Occupational Injuries and Associated Factors among Small Scale Industry Workers in Harar Town, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Small-scale enterprises are among the highest ranked industry in terms of risks for occupational injuries. The rate of the injuries is high in middle and low-income countries, including Ethiopia. In Harar town, it is clear that most of small-scale enterprises lack adequate occupational health and safety materials to prevent workplace hazards and injuries. Besides this, there is a limited evidence on the prevalence of occupational-related injuries among small-scale enterprises in Harartown that can be important to take actions. Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence of occupational injuries and associated factors among small-scale enterprises workers in Harar town from April 12, 2023 to June 1, 2023. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Harar town, Eastern Ethiopia from April 12, 2023 to June 1, 2023. Harar town small-scale enterprises workers and workers working in selected small-scale enterprises were source of population and study population, respectively. A total of 639 participants were included in the study from 281 small-scale enterprises workers. A simple random sampling method was used to select the participants after proportional allocation of study participants. Finally, the data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22. A p-value of <0.05 was considered as a cut of point for statistical significance. Results: Among 639small-scaleindustry workers, 634 (99.2% response rate) were iterveiwed of which, 417 (65.8%) were exposed to injuries at least once in their carrier while 223 (35.2%) and 182(28.7%) were exposed to injury in the last year and last month, respectively. The most common body parts exposed to injury were hand, leg and finger that was 349(34.11%), 298 (29.13.0%) and 273 (26.69%), respectively. There was an association between types of industry (AOR: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.07, 5.46), educational status (AOR: 2.49, 95%CI: 1.01, 2.83), training (AOR: 1.4, 95%CI: 1.35, 3.22), working space (AOR: 4.6, 95% CI: 2.62, 7.51) and woark load (AOR: 2.88, 9.40: 95% CI; 2.78, 11.64). Conclusion: About 6 out of 10 small-scale enterprises workers were exposed to injuries in their carrier time. More than one third of small-scale enterprize workers were exposed to injury in the last year. There were an association between occupational injury and being working in different industry, educational status, training, working space and workload. This indicates that there is a need in implementation of occupational health and safety practices, including training for SSI workers, supportive supervision.