James Prah, Ebenezer Aggrey, Kudom Andreas, Mohammed Abdulai, Cecil Banson, Benedict Addo-Yeboa, Stephen Arhin

Assesment of Occupational Risks and Health Hazards among Healthcare Workers in A Ghanaian Hospital

Introduction

Assesment of occupational risks and health hazards among healthcare workers in a ghanaian hospital. Assess occupational risks and health hazards among healthcare workers in a Ghanaian hospital. Study reveals high musculoskeletal injury/stress risks, underreporting, and staff knowledge.

Abstract

Information on measuring risks prevalent among healthcare workers in Ghana andglobally is limited. With anecdotal evidence suggesting a high level of occupational injuries among health workers working in a Ghanaian University Hospital, this studywas conducted to identify the common hazards faced by the health workers and use thedecision matrix risk assessment technique to determine the risks associated with somehazards identified. The study also determined these workers’ knowledge, attitude, awareness, and practices toward occupational health and safety. A triangulation of methods was used. The study used a survey, a review of incident registers, and an expertevaluation. There were a total of 133 participants made up of various health professional groups, with nurses and midwives being the majority (31.6%). Knowledge, attitude, awareness, and practices towards occupational health and safety were high.Knowledge scores were significantly associated with age groups (X2-18.996, p-0.001)and cadre of staff (X2-14.690, p-0.005). Attitude was significantly associated withage groups (X2-10.467, p-0.033), years of working (X2-11.112, p-0.011), and cadreof staff (X2-15.467, p-0.004). Awareness was significantly associated with years ofworking (X2-8.57, p-0.035). There was a high prevalence of self-reported needle stickinjuries. A review of incident registers revealed a high underreporting rate of occupational injuries. Staff were found to be at high risk of musculoskeletal injuries and stress.

Review

This study addresses a critically important yet often under-researched area: the occupational risks and health hazards faced by healthcare workers in resource-constrained settings, specifically in a Ghanaian hospital. The research effectively employs a triangulation of methods, including surveys, incident register reviews, and expert evaluation, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges. Key findings reveal a paradox: while knowledge, attitude, awareness, and practices (KAPP) towards occupational health and safety (OHS) were generally high among the 133 participants, there was also a high prevalence of self-reported needle stick injuries (NSIs) and a significant underreporting rate of occupational incidents. Furthermore, the study identifies musculoskeletal injuries and stress as major risks, contributing valuable data to the limited information available globally and in Ghana. The methodological strength of this study lies in its use of triangulation, which enhances the robustness of its findings by combining different data sources and perspectives. Identifying the high KAPP scores alongside high self-reported injuries and substantial underreporting is a crucial insight, suggesting that awareness alone is insufficient to mitigate risks and that systemic or cultural factors may impede effective OHS implementation and reporting. However, the abstract could benefit from more detail regarding the application of the "decision matrix risk assessment technique"—specifically, which hazards were assessed and the concrete outcomes beyond the general mention of musculoskeletal injuries and stress. Clarification on the role and methodology of the "expert evaluation" component would also strengthen the description of the research process and its contribution to the findings. Overall, this research makes a valuable contribution to the understanding of occupational health and safety challenges faced by healthcare workers in Ghana. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions that move beyond mere awareness campaigns to address the root causes of underreporting and provide practical, supportive measures for staff. Future work building on this study could explore the barriers to reporting occupational injuries despite high awareness, delve deeper into the specific stressors contributing to high stress levels, and evaluate the effectiveness of proposed interventions. The study provides a solid foundation for policy recommendations aimed at enhancing the safety and well-being of healthcare professionals, ultimately contributing to improved patient care and a healthier working environment.

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