KNOWLEDGE OF RISK FACTORS FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HAZARDS AMONG REGISTERED NURSES IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The issue of occupational health hazards (OHHs) has often been overlooked in developing countries, thereby leaving workers at risk of exposure to their workplace hazards. This study determined the level of knowledge of risk factors for OHHs possessed by nurses in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Two research questions were formulated for the study. One null hypothesis was also tested at 0.05 level of significance. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population for the study consisted of 808 Registered Nurses (RN) in government owned health facilities. A sample of 270 nurses was drawn using Taro Yamane formula. Proportionate sampling technique was used to draw sample for the study. The instrument used for the study was the self designed Knowledge of Risk Factors for OHHs (KPFOHHs) questionnaire. The instrument yielded reliability coefficient of 0.70. Frequency, percentage and Chi-square statistics were used for data analysis. The result indicated high knowledge of risk factors for OHHs among nurses who worked in all the five work units studied. There was no significant difference in the levels of knowledge of risk factors for OHHs among nurses who worked in the various work units studied. Following from this, the study recommended, among others, that new workers should be given proper orientation on occupational health risk factors to improve their knowledge of the risk factors.