Introduction: Nurses are the most available health care workers in most sub-Saharan nations. In Cameroon, the nurse patient ratio stands at 7.8: 10.000 populations, predisposing them to work under relatively difficult conditions. As frontline healthcare providers, nurses perform a major role in patient handling, a task which predisposes them to Work Related Musculoskeletal injuries especially injuries to the back, neck and shoulders. This often occurs because of the absence of an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) team in most health facilities, to monitor the working environment. There is paucity of research work on this area in Cameroon. This paper seeks to determine the prevalence of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs), and also to identify potential risk factors amongst nurses working in four randomly selected health facilities in the Buea and Tiko health districts in the South West Region of Cameroon.Methods: The study involved a cross sectional descriptive study on nurses from four (4) hospitals in different sectors in Cameroon, government hospital, two confessional hospitals and a parastatal hospital. In addition, we did an observational study in randomly selected hospital in the study area. The study was carried out during the months of October 2016 to March 2017. Administrative approvals were obtained. The study used a 12-month recall questionnaire adapted from the Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaires on reported Musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) amongst 110 nurses in these randomly selected four health facilities in Fako. Descriptive characteristics were analysed using a chi square test and logistic regression. The statistical software used was EPI Info version 7.0. The level of significance was set at 0.05 for all statistical tests.Results: There was a 90% response rate from 110 nurses. The prevalence of WMSD at anybody site was 65%. Compared to 12 hourly shifts, those working in the 8 hourly shift systems were 3.66 times less likely to develop WMSDs with a (95% CI 1.15 - 11.84). Nursing Assistants were 3.30 times less likely to develop WMSD compared to Senior Nurses with a (95% CI 1.36 -7.98) which were significant associated factors for WMSD in this study. Though not statistically significant, nurses working in the public hospital had the worst WMSD. Obsolete materials and awkward postures were some of the risk factors to WMSD. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of WMSD among nurses in Buea and Tiko health districts, with predisposing factors being 12 hourly shifts, obsolete equipments and awkward postures. To improve conditions of work (ergonomics), the institution of an Occupational Health and Safety management team in all health facilities, is imperative to reduce WMSDs.
Work related Musculoskeletal Disorders, Nurses, Occupational health and safety
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