The Status of Occupational Health and Safety among Nurses in Kapkatet Sub County Hospital in Kericho County

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational health and safety in the health sector relates to the safety, health, and welfare, of the various cadres of health care workers, in their workplace. It is, therefore, important to identify and reduce hazardous exposures in the hospital environment as it influences both the health of nurses and also affects the care of the patients. We sought to determine the occupational safety and health status of nurses in Kapkatet sub-county hospital in Kericho County, Kenya.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study focusing on nurses working at Kapkatet sub-county hospital. We used the Census sampling method and involved all the nurses in the facility. We used a structured questionnaire with both close-ended and open-ended questions to collect data from both nurses on duty and off duty. This questionnaire was pre-tested at the Kericho county referral hospital and data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25.0. Statistical significance was set at a p-value of 0.05.
Results: The prevalence of work-related illnesses was 64% with back pain being the most common at 46%, needle prick illnesses being 27% and latex allergy affecting 15% of nurses. Hospital safety measures and working hours were associated with occupational illnesses yet individual factors were not associated with the development of occupational illnesses.
Conclusion: The prevalence of occupational and safety illnesses was high at 64%. There was adherence to occupational health and safety precautions although there was poor adherence to lifting techniques and proper sharps disposal. Hospital safety measures and working hours were associated with occupational illnesses. Individual factors were not associated with occupational health illness.
Recommendations: We recommend that the stakeholders in the health fraternity provide nurses with adequate personal protective equipment; nurses adhere to safety protocols and attend continuous refresher courses on lifting techniques. Hospitals should also employ porters to assist nurses in the movement of patients and medical supplies.