Author(s)

Basil Kum Meh^1*, Orélien Sylvain Mtopi Bopda¹, Jerson Mekoulou Ndongo², Franklin Chu Buh¹, Claude Elysée Bika Léle², Clarisse Noël Ayina Ayina², Peguy Brice Assomo Ndemba^2,3, Emmanuel Haddison Sako⁴, Bienvenu Bongue⁵, Samuel Honoré Mandengue²

¹Department of Animal Biology and Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
²Physiology and Medicine of Physical Activities and Sports Unit, Faculty of Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
³Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁴Department of General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁵Mines Saint-Etienne, INSERM, Université Jean Monnet, Saint-étienne, France.

Introduction: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are a public health problem and have forced many workers to quit their jobs prematurely. This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of WRMSDs among Healthcare workers in five reference hospitals in the City of Douala-Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 among 561 healthcare workers working in five reference hospitals in the city of Douala, Cameroon. Participants were selected using a convenient sampling technique. Data were collected with structured questionnaires; data on the demographics and risk factors were collected using a well-designed questionnaire, while estimation of the prevalence of WRMSDs was done using the Modified Nordic questionnaire. Results: The overall prevalence rate of WRMSDs among healthcare workers in Douala hospitals was 83.4% (468/561). The prevalence per professional groups was as follows: 88.8% (71) for Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS), 81.9% (289) for nurses, 21 (80.8%) for Physiotherapists (PTs) and 78.8% (41) for Medical Doctors (MDs). There was a significant difference (p = 0.001) in the prevalence of WRMSDs with respect to place of work where healthcare workers from HLD recorded the highest prevalence 89.9%, while Healthcare workers from NBDH were 2.91 times at risk (AOR = 2.91; 95% CI: 1.32 - 6.41; p = 0.001) to develop WRMSDs than healthcare workers in the other hospitals. With respect to body region, the highest prevalence of WRMSDs was recorded on the lower back, 58.8% with the lowest at the elbows 11.2%. The age group 30 to 39 years was significantly associated with WRMSDs at level of the shoulder (p = 0.002), upper back (p = 0.019), elbows (p < 0.001), knees (p = 0.006) and ankle/feet (p = 0.047). Working on the same position (AOR = 2.90; 95% CI = 1.74 - 4.83; p = 0.001), working with vibrating objects (AOR = 1.94; 95% CI = 1.10 - 3.40; p = 0.022) and job stress (AOR = 1.91; 95% CI = 1.14 - 3.20; p = 0.014) were non-demographic risk factors associated with WRMSDs. Conclusion: The overall prevalence rate of WRMSDs among healthcare workers in Douala hospitals was high. The prevalence of WRMSDs is highest among MLS and nurses and the most affected body parts are; lower back, neck and upper back. Working on the same posture, stressful job, and repetitive tasks were the major risk factors associated to WRMSDs among healthcare workers in Douala hospitals.

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, Risk Factors, Prevalence, Healthcare Workers, Douala-Cameroon

Meh, B. , Bopda, O. , Ndongo, J. , Buh, F. , Léle, C. , Ayina, C. , Ndemba, P. , Sako, E. , Bongue, B. and Mandengue, S. (2023) Epidemiological Patterns of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Healthcare Workers in Five Reference Hospitals in the City of Douala, Cameroon. Open Journal of Preventive Medicine, 13, 109-128. doi: 10.4236/ojpm.2023.135008.