Sick at work: prevalence and determinants among healthcare workers, western Ethiopia: an institution based cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundGoing to work despite feeling sick also known as sickness presenteeism is one of the emerging global occupational health challenges. Sickness presenteeism negatively affects both health of work forces and productivity of organizations in general. However, there is insufficient research exploring this situation in majority of the Sub-Saharan African countries, including Ethiopia. Thus this study intended to investigate the prevalence and determinant factors of sickness presenteeism among health care workers, Western Ethiopia.MethodsThis study used an institution based cross-sectional quantitative study design. The study period was from February to March, 2017. We employed simple random sampling method to select 360 study samples. Data collection was performed by pre-tested structured and self- administered questionnaire. We used SPSS version 20 to carry out binary logistic regression analysis. Odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals was calculated and significance of associations was determined at p-value < 0.05.ResultsA total of 344 respondents fully completed the survey questionnaire. Mean age with standard deviation was 30.28 ± 6.181. Prevalence of sickness Presenteeism was 52.6% [95%CI: (47.4, 57.8)] in the past 12 months. Educational status [AOR:2.1, 95%CI: (1.17,3.90)], financial problem [AOR:1.9,95%CI:(1.07,3.46)], sickness absenteeism [AOR:2.7,95% CI:(1.50,5.02)], lack of staff replacement [AOR:2.7,95%CI:(1.50,5.02)], absence of occupational health services [AOR:3.0,95%CI:(1.34,6.70)], and pressure from supervisor [AOR:1.8,95% CI:(1.01,3.31)] were significant predictors of the dependent variable.ConclusionRelatively higher proportions of workers indicated sickness presenteeism as compared to other studies. Risk factors like educational status, personal financial problem, sickness absenteeism, lack of staff replacement, absence of occupational health services, and pressure from supervisors considerably increased the likely occurrence of employees’ sick attendance. It is advisable for health care managers to hire adequate health care staffs, to implement basic occupational health services and to design strategies which reduce pressure from supervisors.

Predictors of Presenteeism Among Hospital Employees—A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire-Based Study in Switzerland

“…Similar results were obtained by Mekonnen et al in whose study of healthcare workers it was shown that pressure from the supervisor and a shortage of personnel are significant predictors of presenteeism [19].…”

Sickness presenteeism: Are we sure about what we are studying? A research based on a literature review and an empirical illustration

“…Nor is there a perfect consensus with respect to the population in which to estimate SP or, to put it another way, the denominator that should be used when estimating frequency measures. There are studies in which the population considered is all workers and others, noting that to be presenteeist the worker first must meet the condition of being “sick,” exclude “healthy” workers (considered “not at risk”) …”

Severe and moderate seasonal influenza epidemics among Italian healthcare workers: A comparison of the excess of absenteeism

“…Second, it is likely that low absenteeism can be an indicator of presenteeism among the medical staff, which is the phenomenon in which an employee goes to work despite feeling so ill that sick absenteeism would have been appropriate 41 . Even though sickness presenteeism is common in all working populations, studies have shown that its prevalence increases in the care sector and among healthcare workers likely because the service they provide is customer contact in its nature and compels to the high physical presence requirement 42,43 . Therefore, the small excess of absenteeism of medical doctors may be because they are educated workers and may be more likely to have high responsibility assignments and to have high job attendance requirements.…”

“…41 Even though sickness presenteeism is common in all working populations, studies have shown that its prevalence increases in the care sector and among healthcare workers likely because the service they provide is customer contact in its nature and compels to the high physical presence requirement. 42,43 Therefore, the small excess of absenteeism of medical doctors may be because they are educated workers and may be more likely to have high responsibility assignments and to have high job attendance requirements. These suggestions were consistent with the findings of other studies, [44][45][46] which demonstrated that the level of education of participants and responsibility assignments for relatively more educated participants were significantly associated with sickness presenteeism.…”