Prevalence of self-reported occupational diseases/injuries amongst poultry farmers in Kaduna North local government area, Kaduna State

Abstract

Background: A healthy worker is a productive worker and an asset to the organisation and the country at large. Occupational health and safety in Nigeria is in a poor state; with no comprehensive occupational health monitoring system for work-related diseases and injuries. Work-related accidents and diseases continue to be a serious problem in both developed and developing countries like Nigeria. Poultry farmers, by the nature of their job, are susceptible to occupational and environmental hazards on a daily basis. Aim: The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of occupational hazards amongst poultry farm workers in Kaduna North local government area, Kaduna State. Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive survey was carried out using semi-structured questionnaires to obtain information from 70 respondents selected by multi-stage sampling technique. Data were analysed based on descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Fisher's exact test using SPSS version 21. The results were presented in tables and figures. Results: Majority (75.7%) of the respondents had experienced an occupational injury/disease at work; with the most common (45.7%) being cough. There was a statistically significant relationship between work experience, highest level of education and experience of occupational injury or disease in the past year (0.0015) and (0.004), respectively. Conclusion: In view of the findings from this study, all employees should be continually informed of the hazards they will encounter in the course of their job so that even more experienced workers realise that if necessary precautions are not taken, they will susceptible to the hazards.