article · BMC Nursing
Nursing professionals face significant occupational hazards, yet research on work-related musculoskeletal disorders in African healthcare settings has been limited. A cross-sectional survey evaluated 741 nurses across five hospitals in Uganda to determine disorder prevalence and associated risk factors. Over 80 percent of participating nurses reported experiencing a musculoskeletal disorder in the preceding 12 months, with lower back pain identified as the most frequent complaint, affecting nearly 62 percent of respondents. Key contributors to these disorders included physical stressors such as sustained awkward working postures, prolonged bent or twisted positions, and pulling or pushing heavy loads. Psychological and systemic factors also showed significant links, notably mental exhaustion and extended workplace absence exceeding six months due to prior illness or accident. Addressing these challenges requires improved working conditions, stronger workplace advocacy, and targeted strategies to minimise occupational injuries among healthcare staff.
Healthcare delivery depends heavily on the physical health and retention of nursing staff. High rates of work-related musculoskeletal pain and mental exhaustion undermine staff wellbeing and can disrupt clinical care in resource-constrained environments. Quantifying the scale and drivers of occupational injuries demonstrates the clear need for better workplace design, ergonomic strategies, and supportive employment policies to protect healthcare workers from chronic physical strain.
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BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) constitute one of the main occupational hazards among health care workers. However, few epidemiological studies on work related MSD among nursing professionals have been carried out in Africa. The purpose of this study was to assess the work related musculoskeletal disorders and associated risk factors among nursing professionals in Uganda. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of MSD among 880 nursing professionals from five selected hospitals in Uganda. Data was collected using a questionnaire adapted from the Dutch Musculoskeletal and Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaires. Descriptive (mean, standard deviation and percentages) and inferential (Chi square test and logistic regression analysis) statistics were used to analyse data. Alpha level was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 741 completed questionnaires were analysed (response rate 85.4%). The average age of the respondents was 35.4 (SD 10.7) years and a majority were female (85.7%). The average working hours per week was 43.7 (SD 18.9 hours). The 12-month period-prevalence of MSD at anybody site was 80.8%. The most common site of MSD was the lower back (61.9%). Significant risk factors for reported MSD included often working in a slightly bent posture (adjOR 2.25, 95% CI 1.20-4.26), often working in a slightly twisted posture for long (adjOR 1.97, 95% CI 1.03-3.77), mental exhaustion (adjOR 2.05, 95% CI 1.17-3.5), being absent from the work station for more than 6 months due to illness or an accident (adjO|R, 4.35, 95% CI 1.44-13.08) and feeling rested after a break (adjOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.16-3.76). CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal disorders affect more than 80% of nursing professionals in Uganda with the most commonly, affected site being the lower back. Significant risk factors for MSD include; being absent from the work station for more than 6 months due to illness or an accident, working in awkward postures, pushing/pulling of heavy loads and mental exhaustion. There is a need for greater advocacy, better working conditions and adoption of strategies to reduce occupational injuries.
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DOI: 10.1186/1472-6955-13-7
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