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. 2021 Oct 30:14:4447-4456.
doi: 10.2147/RMHP.S323503. eCollection 2021.

Occupational Health Problems among Seasonal and Migrant Farmworkers in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Kasahun Alemu Gelaye  1 , Getu Debalke  2 , Tadesse Awoke Ayele  1 , Haileab Fekadu Wolde  1 , Malede Mequanent Sisay  1 , Destaw Fetene Teshome  1 , Temesgen Yihunie Akalu  1 , Sintayehu Daba Wami  3
Affiliations

Occupational Health Problems among Seasonal and Migrant Farmworkers in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Kasahun Alemu Gelaye et al. Risk Manag Healthc Policy. .

Abstract

Background: Migrant and seasonal farmworkers are at increased risk for occupational fatalities and injuries. Although such employment-related geographical mobility is receiving increasing attention, there is limited evidence about occupational health problems among seasonal farmworkers. Therefore, this study aims to investigate occupational health problems among seasonal and migrant farmworkers in Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed from October to December 2019 among seasonal and migrant farmworkers. The study was carried out in two sites of Amhara regional state, northwest Ethiopia. A cluster sampling technique was used to recruit 990 study participants. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 20 to identify factors associated with injuries. The significance level was obtained at 95% CI and p-value ≤0.05.

Results: In this study, the period prevalence of work-related injury among seasonal and migrant farmworkers was 32.5% (95% CI: 29.7, 35.9). Being unemployed before migration (AOR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.26, 3.91), working for >8 h/day (AOR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.16, 2.27), stress (AOR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.88) and thermal discomfort (AOR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.98) were the significant risk factors for work-related injury. In addition, nearly two-third (60.9%) of the study participants have shown three or more heat-related illness symptoms. Moreover, the prevalence of work-related stress among seasonal and migrant farmworkers was 67.6% (95% CI: 64.6, 70.7).

Conclusion: Occupational health problems among seasonal and migrant farmworkers in northwest Ethiopia remain a major public health problem. Hence, implementing tailored preventive measures like training on health and safety, and hazard control measures would be supremely important to minimize the risk.

Keywords: Ethiopia; University of Gondar; injury; occupational health; seasonal and migrant workers; stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest for this work.

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Grants and funding

This research work was financially supported by the University of Gondar as part of the mega research project. However, the funder had no role in the design of this study, data collection, management, analysis and interpretation of data and decision to submit for the publication.

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