Work related musculoskeletal disorders and associated factors among staff at selected laboratories in Kampala Uganda

Abstract

Introduction Laboratory (lab) personnel are a key component of the health care system whose daily tasks involve static and sustained awkward postures with repetitive motions that increase ergonomic risks to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). A study among 100 health facilities in Uganda pointed to about 87.5% of hub labs being constrained by inadequate staff numbers, 75% by inadequate staff qualifications and 81.2% by high volume of clients. These labs also have a high workload for prolonged periods but there is a knowledge gap as regards the MSDs experienced. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with work related MSDs (WMSDs) among staff at selected labs in Kampala. Methods: A cross sectional study on 203 consecutively sampled lab personnel practicing at the selected labs in Kampala was conducted. A pretested modified standardized Nordic questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was entered in EpiData v4.6 and analyzed using STATA v14. The prevalence of WMSDs was estimated as a proportion of the entire sample size. Analysis for factors associated was done by modified Poisson regression reporting robust standard errors through the survey window to control for clustering at lab level and section level. Ethical approval was sought from School of medicine research and ethics committee. Results: The prevalence of WMSDs among the laboratory personnel was 48.3% (95%CI: 33.2 – 63.3). At multivariate analysis, sex (aPR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.19-1.57), work involving repetitive motions (aPR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.16-0.73), taking rest breaks at work (aPR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.52-0.88) and physical exercise (aPR: 0.77 95% CI: 0.63-0.93) were significantly associated with WMSDs in this population. Conclusion: Approximately 5 out of every 10 laboratory personnel in this study had experienced at least one or more WMSDs within the past 12 months. Sex, performing work that involves repetitive motions, taking work rest breaks and physical exercise were significantly associated with WMSDs in this population. Increased awareness of injury prevention at the workplace and modification of the occupational safety and health policy to include details about the specifics of the interventions required to prevent WMSDs is encouraged.