Study and Assess the Occupation Hazards to Health Workers in the City of Kut/ Wassit

Abstract

Background: Occupational hazards are a major medical, social, economic problem and a leading cause of
morbidity and mortality for health workers. The aims of this study was to identify the types of occupational
hazards and risks that health workers are exposed to in the study area. In addition, to measure risk level of
occupation hazards. This is a cross sectional descriptive study was carried out among health workers in two
hospitals located in Kut city in Wasit governorate. The period of the study extended from October 2019, until
the end of March 2020. Data collected by using questionnaire form. The occupation hazards dimensions,
which include four domains: physical hazards, chemical hazards, biological hazards, and psychological
hazards. The statistical methods used included Chi-square and Fisher exact test. A statistical significant
association (p<0.05). The main findings of the current study indicate that the commonest occupational
hazards among the health workers in Al- Kut hospital was noise (58.6%), and the second hazard in this
category was fire (51.9%). While in Al-Karamah hospital the commonest occupational hazards among the
health workers was noise (57.9%) . Conlusively, the study was found that health workers in Al-Karamah
hospital had experienced light, heat, noise, psychological, and chemical hazard higher than health workers
in Al-Kut hospital. In addition , the health workers in Al-Karamah hospital had experienced biological lower
than health workers in Al-Kut hospital.