Work-related musculoskeletal disorders and associated factors among cleaners of health institutions in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia: an institution based cross-sectional study

BackgroundMusculoskeletal disorders are growing public health problems both in developed and developing countries including Ethiopia. However, its prevention and control has not yet received due attention. This study aimed to determine. the prevalence and associated factors of musculoskeletal disorders musculoskeletal disorders among cleaners of health institutions in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia MethodAn institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted, from April to May 2016 in all health institutions of Gondar town. All the available cleaners of health institutions were taken as study participants. Data were collected by face-to-face interview technique after verbal informed consent. Additionally, weight and height of participants were measured following standard procedures. Data were collected by trained physiotherapists and then entered into a computer using Epi Info version 3.5.3 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Descriptive statistics was performed to describe the data in percentage and mean. Multiple logistic regressions were fitted and Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to identify associated factors. ResultsA total of 242 participants were included in this study. The majority of the study participants were females (79.3%) and between 25-44 age group (65.3%). Two hundred 0ne (83.1%) of the respondents reported that they had pain in at least one of the body parts in the previous 12 months. Of the nine body parts examined, neck (76%), upper back (40.5%) and lower back (45%) were the most frequently body parts reported to exhibit pain. Job status (AOR = 2.71, 95%CI; 1.37-5.36), and static work habit (AOR = 2.71, 95%CI; 1.37-5.36), were factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders. ConclusionThere is a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among cleaners in the health institutions of Gondar Town. Job status and static work habit were the significant associated factors. Hence, we recommend the design and implementation of institution based screening programs for musculoskeletal disorders