Occupational injuries and diseases amongst healthcare workers of the department of health in Limpopo Province

Abstract

SUMMARY

OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES AND DISEASES AMONGST HEALTHCARE WORKERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN LIMPOPO PROVINCE

AIM: To analyse and provide data on the incidence of occupational injuries and the prevalence of occupational diseases amongst healthcare workers of Department of Health in Limpopo Province.

OBJECTIVES: The specific objectives of the study were as follows:

1. To determine the most common occupational types of injuries and/or diseases amongst healthcare workers with regard to the demographic profile (i.e. age, gender, occupation, workstation) of healthcare workers;

2. To establish outcomes of these injuries and diseases fatalities regard to the demographic profile (i.e. age, gender, occupation, workstation) of healthcare workers; and

3. To assess the association between the predominant injuries and diseases with the profile of the health care workers

METHOD: The researcher sourced data electronically from Department of Health as quarterly reports, four (4) for each year of the financial years 2007/2008, 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 respectively. The data was consolidated into financial years, cleaned out part of 2007 and 2010 so at to remain with 3 calendar years (2007, 2008 &2009) prior analysis.

RESULTS: There were 725 per 100 000 healthcare workers affected by injuries and diseases during the study period. These injuries/and diseases affected more males than females above 40 years with the mean age being 43 years. Of the 631 injuries and diseases reported, 89% were injuries whist 11 % were diseases with most employees from Mopani district. The most common injuries which affected HCWs thus included needle stick injuries (24%), slip/trip/fall (23%), motor vehicle accidents (14%), injuries by external objects (10%) and assaults (7%). The most common diseases which affected HCWs were found to be TB (69%), diseases by chemical agents (12%), cholera (9%) and poisoning (2%). The needle stick injury affected clinical nurses (59%) more than other professionals; moreover, TB affected 63.6% of nurses. The captured outcome of this injury/disease was 4 fatalities among EMS personnel.

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study demonstrates that tuberculosis is the most common occupational disease acquired whilst needle stick injury is the commonest occupational injury sustained by healthcare workers of the Department of Health, Limpopo Province. The employees were therefore affected by preventable occupational injuries and diseases.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Preventative programs need to be strengthened to reduce morbidity of tuberculosis and needle stick injuries amongst employees.