An Assessment of Knowledge among Healthcare Professionals on Occupational Health Hazards at New Abirem Government Hospital, Ghana

Background: Healthcare professionals render various healthcare services to patients. However, in their duty to patients, they are exposed to occupational hazards that could be detrimental to their health and safety. In order to minimize exposure to these occupational hazards and prevent their detrimental effects on healthcare professionals, it is fundamental to assess the level of knowledge healthcare professionals have with regards to these health hazards.

Objectives: The study was intended at assessing the knowledge of healthcare professionals at New Abirem Government Hospital on occupational health hazards and safety practices at the hospital.

Methodology: A cross-sectional quantitative study approach was adopted in this study. A total of 171 participants were recruited from within the staff at the New Abirem Hospital. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the total 171 from the staff of 300. Questionnaires were administered to obtain data for the study and the administration body was interviewed. For data analysis, the quantitative data was edited and cleaned using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Basic descriptive analysis was thereafter performed. In the analysis and interpretation of the quantitative data, the statistical Mean was used.

Results and Findings: The results showed that 120 (70.2%) participants agreed that, knowledge of occupational health and safety is the responsibility and right of both employer and employee. 33 (19.3%) of the participants were neutral, 18 (10.5%) disagreed with the assertion. Furthermore, 129 (75.4%) of the participants agreed that occupational hazards always relate to work activities that increase the risk of injury. 23 (13.5%) of the respondents were neutral in their response whiles 19 (11.1%) disagreed with the assertion. Additionally, 117 (75.4%) of the participants stated they were obliged to report work-related accidents or injuries even though 24 (14%) disagreed. Nevertheless, 114 (66.7%) agreed that the most effective accident and disease prevention begins when work processes are still in the design stage. Similarly, 126 (73.7%) respondents agreed that healthcare professionals are at high risk of occupational hazard. The study found out that there were no knowledge of laid down health and safety policies in place at the hospital. This was quite unexpected as the healthcare facility is considered a high-risk facility. There were no in-house health and safety personnel. The hospital depended heavily on periodic trainings offered to staff to keep them up-to-date on health and safety issues. The study also revealed major challenges such as lack of funding, understaffing, bureaucracy and non-compliance to internal rules and regulations as barriers to ensuring effective occupational health and safety.

Conclusion: Healthcare professionals are well knowledgeable of occupational hazards at the facility. The highest form of occupational hazard that the healthcare professionals are exposed to is chemical hazards. There are several problems militating against the top management in improving upon the occupational safety at the workplace. However, more could be done to ensure a more secured work environment for employees of the hospital.