Occupational hazards among laboratory hub riders in selected health centres in central region of Uganda
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Date
2021
Authors
Agondeze, Sandra
Kizza, Stephen S.
Vuzi, Peter
Ddamulira, Christopher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Direct Research Journal of Public Health and Environmental Technology
Abstract
Laboratory hub riders (LHRs) are motorcycle riders
employed by health centres to handle, package, and transport
biological samples within and between different health centres.
Their nature of work exposes them to infectious microorganisms
through accidental splash exposure or sharps injuries. The study
was carried out in selected health centres in Central region,
Uganda. The objective was to assess the factors influencing
Occupational hazards. The population of the study was 140 LHRs
proportionately allocated in selected Health centres in central
region of Uganda, with a sample size of 103 LHRs. It was a cross
sectional study using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
Data were analysed using descriptive statistics to derive means,
frequencies and standard deviations as well as inferential
statistics to derive odds ratios and significances using logistic
regression and multivariate analysis. The study revealed that
majority of the LHRs was youths, aged 20-35 years, with Ordinary
level certificate as their highest level of education. About 63.7%
reported occupational exposure occurrences to management, and
were knowledgeable about risks and hazards at work place.
Majority 92.2% viewed their jobs as high risk and used Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) 85.4%, to reduce occupational
hazards. Very few 12.3 % of the LHRs received training before
commencing with their duties as new recruits. The prevalence of
occupational hazards was quite low with 36.9% reported having
experienced splash exposures, and 7.8% reported having
experienced sharps injuries in the past 12 months. Job specific
training was found to be the influential factor for occupational
hazards in regard to splash exposure (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)
= 0.33, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.12 - 0.93, p-value (p) =
0.04) and sharps injuries (AOR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.73 - 0.66, p =
0.01). There is need for health centres to incorporate job specific
training such as safety precautions on infection prevention and
control for newly recruited LHRs before they commence with
their duties.
Description
Keywords
Occupational hazards, Laboratory hub riders, Health centres, Uganda
Citation
Agondeze, S., Kizza, S. S., Vuzi, P., & Ddamulira, C. (2021). Occupational hazards among laboratory hub riders in selected health centres in central region of Uganda.