Tanga AT, Tessema F and Jilo GK
Background: Globally, poor occupational health and safety results in 271 million work related injuries, 2 million work-related deaths, and 160 million work-related diseases per year. The risk of having work-related injury is 10 to 20 times higher in developing countries including Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, according to labor proclamation No.377/2003, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Ethiopia is the organ charged with the responsibility to inspect labor administration, labor conditions, occupational safety and health. However, information regarding the present status of occupational injuries among small scale industries is lacking.
Objective: To assess prevalence of occupational injury and factors associated with it among small scale industries workers in Arba Minch town, 2016. Methods Facility based cross sectional study was conducted from March to April, 2016. 412 small scale industries workers were include using stratified random sampling method. Data were collected by face to face interview and supplemented by observational study. Bivariate logistic regression was used to identify candidate variables and Multivariable logistic regression was employed to identify independent predictors of occupational injuries and to control confounders. In multivariable analysis p value of less than 0.05 was used to declare significance.
Results: The annual and two weeks prevalence of occupational injuries were 808 and 206 per 1000 exposed workers respectively. Statistically significant independent predictors of occupational injuries were numbers of workers in the industries (AOR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.24, 4.35), health and safety training (AOR: 6.4, 95% CI: 2.89, 14.15), alcohol drinking (AOR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.19, 4.49), khat chewing (AOR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.13, 4.83), and none-use of personal protective equipment (AOR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.47, 5.10).
Conclusion and Recommendation: occupational injuries among small scale industries workers in Arbaminch town were high compared to other studies. Age of the workers, numbers of workers in industries, health and safety training, alcohol drinking, khat chewing, and non-use of personal protective equipment were significant and independent predictors for occupational injury. Some of significant factors assessed were assumed to be preventable with provisions of safety equipment and behavioral change communications programs on life style factors.
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