Work-related symptoms and hazard preventative measures among oral health care workers in Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of work-related symptoms among oral health workers other than the dentist in Nigeria and the preventive measures put in place to reduce exposure to hazardous agents and practices. The study was by means of self-administered questionnaires filled by all cadres of oral health staff who attended two National update courses as well as in all the four teaching hospitals and all public hospitals in Lagos State. Ninety (90) questionnaires were returned properly filled out of one hundred and ten (110) distributed. Forty-five(50%) of them responded positively to the question on the presence of work-related illnesses. There was a significant relationship between answering positively to the question and working in awkward positions (p=0.0006), lifting heavy equipments (p=0.01), working with noisy equipments (p=0.02) and being over 40 years of age (p=0.03). However, gender and years of practice were not significantly associated with a positive response. Use of preventive measures was inadequate. Hepatitis B vaccination coverage was found only in 33(36.7%) of them while workplace control measures were not satisfactory. In conclusion, proper regulation of the dental work environment as well as personal protection of employee especially mandatory uptake of hepatitis B vaccination is advocated.

Keywords: work-related, occupational, symptoms, oral health workers

Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 5 (2) 2006: 62-65