ABSTRACT Background: Pesticides are used by individuals especially farmers to prevent crop damage by harmful insects or plant pests. In the process of preventing and eradicating pests, individuals are occupationally and environmentally exposed to pesticides. Although pesticides help in preventing crop destruction by pests, they are toxic, and exposure can result in a number of health effects. This study aimed at evaluating pesticide residues in human urine samples of farmers who apply pestici...
Abstract Background: Healthcare workers are exposed to myriads of occupational health and safety hazards in the course of work. These hazards arise from many sources and include; biological agents, chemical agents, ergonomic, physical and psychosocial factors in the health facilities. The impact of poor occupational health and safety is felt not just by affected healthcare workers, but also by the patients receiving care in their facilities. The main determinants of occupational health and sa...
ABSTRACT Background: Port related work is known to be one of the most dangerous occupations that contribute to increasing occupational injuries in the world. Numerous work-related injuries occur at different levels in the workplace but as a result of lack of thorough standards, or unfamiliarity with the existing guidelines, people are not normally aware of such events and their actual or potential consequences on human health. In The Gambia as in any other developing country, not much atten...
Introduction: The use of cement in Ghana was increased steadily over the years due to the increase in construction activities. Much of the cement used for construction is being produced in the country, presenting a lot of concerns for the health of cement workers in the country. Dangote group is the first foreign entrant into the Ghanaian cement market, coming in, to compete with the existing two Ghanaian indigenous cement industries, Ghana Cement (GHACEM) and West African Cement Compan...
ABSTRACT Background: Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs) has for quite along time continued to be the world's leading health crisis among the working population. The prevalence or the disease burden among workers in the cement-block manufacturing companies in Ghana is not known. A study to determine the prevalence and the associated ergonomic risk factors of WRMDs among such working group is worth pursuing. Objective: The study was to assess the ergonomic risk factors; mainly ...
ABSTRACT Noise pollution is a global occupational health issue affecting the well-being of workers who are exposed to it. A common detrimental effect of work place noise exposure over time is noise induced hearing loss. Noise induced hearing loss is completely preventable, especially when safety measures are taken, however it becomes irreversible once acquired. The main aim of the study was to determine the effect of occupational noise levels on hearing among cement factory workers. A cross-s...
ABSTRACT Background: Needle stick and sharp injuries (NSSIs) or needle stick injuries (NSI) have been recognized as one of the most serious occupational health hazards among health care workers (HCWs) with a potentially high risk of transmitting blood borne pathogens. Such pathogens include hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The incidence of NSIs is highest in low income countries ostensibly due to lack of strict adherence to the use of pe...
ABSTRACT Background: E-waste contains refined mixtures of plastics and chemicals, which can be unsafe for people and the environment when not handled carefully. In developing nations like Ghana where e-waste is ripped to shreds and recycled by bare hands, dangerous substances and plastics are emitted into the atmosphere through air, water, and soil. Workers around e-waste sites and those dismantling and sweltering the electronic waste to salvage valuable metals and other constituents are expo...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Heavy metals contaminate soils, water bodies, and also the ambient environment. Fish could be contaminated by heavy metals through pollution of water bodies, as a result of industrial discharge, agricultural run-offs, mining activities, and weathering of rocks. Many of the food markets in Ghana are open markets where foodstuffs are usually displayed in the open, often exposed to the environment. Processed fish, especially smoked fish is a major source of protein and a ...
ABSTRACT Background: Disposal of electronic waste is an emerging global environmental and public health problem. The recycling of electronic waste by open burning releases a complex mixture of toxicants containing oxides of inorganic particles of metals which disperse into the environment to affect the health of pupils attending schools located around Agbogbloshie e-waste site. Hazardous inorganic metals such as Lead (Pb), Manganese (Mn), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr) and Nickel (Ni) found i...
ABSTRACT Background: Hepatitis B is the inflammation of the liver caused by the Hepatitis B virus. The risk of maternal transmission of Hepatitis B infection in pregnancy and a peri-natal period is dependent on maternal Hepatitis B envelop antigen (HbeAg). A positive HbeAg mother has between 70-90% chances of transmitting the virus to the unborn child. This study sought to determine the prevalence of and predictors of Hepatitis B among pregnant women in the Wa municipality. The study also ass...
ABSTRACT Background of study: Hypertension is well documented as one of the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed world, the significance of hypertension in low-income countries is less well established. In Ghana, however, very little is being done about the disease and its associated risk factors, particularly among healthcare workers. There are several reports of hypertension and other chronic diseases among health care workers in medical facilities in Ghana. However, no s...
ABSTRACT Background: Recent improvements in safety performance have taken place as a result of combination of efforts of engineers, owners, contractors, subcontractors, and designers. Data from the (OSHA), shows that about two-thirds of workers, on average, constantly wear the correct (PPE) while the other third are at risk of injuries. Objective: The main aim of this study was to assess workers‟ knowledge level and use of on-site preventive equipment usage. Methods: A questionnaire was use...
ABSTRACT Medical fitness of troops participating in UN peacekeeping mission is of paramount importance to commanders on the field for efficient and productive execution of set tasks. Disability resulting from complications of chronic illnesses, markedly reduces the number of active troops, which includes highly trained specialists, hence commanders fail to achieve targeted objectives. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hypertension among Ghanaian – UN peacekeepers...
ABSTRACT Background Generally, heavy equipment operators such as forklifts drivers and cranes operators perform various tasks that expose them to many hazards which may lead to health problems. Whole body vibration, awkward postures, repetitive movement, are some of the hazards that heavy equipment operators are exposed to. Objective Investigations were therefore conducted to access Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among heavy equipment/ machine operators of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Autho...