Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Associated Factors towards Occupational Health and Safety among Medical Laboratory Professionals in Selected Government Health Centers in Addis Ababa.
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Date
2021-03
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background:Current knowledge of laboratory workforce on safe working environment leavesmuch space for improvement and need to be explored further. Common laboratory risks andhazards are numerous but can be minimized with better knowledge, attitude and simple safeworking practices. Worker absence due to Work related injuries is an important phenomenonacross all countries, industries, and occupations.
Objective: To assess knowledge, attitude, practice and associated factors towards occupationalhealth and safety among medical laboratory professionals in selected government health centersin Addis Ababa from January to May 2020.
Methods:A cross sectional study wasconducted between January to May2020 among 333 MLPsworking in selected government health centers in Addis Ababa. Data was collected using self administered structured questionnaire; it is also supported by in-depth interview andphysicalobservation checklist. Data entry, analysis was performed by SPSS version 23 software. Level ofstatistical significance was set at p<0.05
Results: Of the 333 participants, 171(51.4%) were female. The participant’s age ranged between20 and 50 years. The mean knowledge score ofrespondents was 4.76 ± (SD 1.19) and accordingto this evaluation 112(33.6%) MLPs were categorized as having high level of knowledge,161(48.3%) moderate level and 60(18%) had low level of knowledge on occupational health &safety (OHS). Mean attitude score was 17.95± (SD 3.32) and mean practice score was 26.83 ±(SD 5.64). There were strong association between training on bio-safety, work experience,marital status, monthly income, risk assessment training and knowledge score (p<0.001).Likewise, orientation on OHS (p<0.009) and risk assessment training (p<0.049) wassignificantly associated with attitude score .In addition, work experience (p<0.001), training onOHS (p<0.001)and risk assessment (p<0.004), monthly income (p<0.022), educational level(p<0.024) and orientation (p<0.037)were significantly associated with practice score of laboratory professionals.
Conclusion: Orientation on OHSissue during first employment, Training on OHS or Bio-Safetytraining and risk assessment training should be given for MLPs to boost as well as get better theirknowledge and practice on occupational health and safety at working environment.
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Keywords
Knowledge,attitude, practice andOHS.