Magnitude of Occupational Injuries and Associated Factors among Small-Scale Industry Workers in Mekelle City, Northern Ethiopia

Background: Occupational injuries are important public health problems that comprise a major part of injury burden in Ethiopia. The present study investigates the magnitude and associated factors with occupational injuries among small-scale industry workers in Mekelle city, Northern Ethiopia in 2013. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 774 small-scale industry workers from March to April 2013. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the study participant’s. A pre-tested and structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on the occurrence of occupational injuries and allied factors. Data was analyzed using STATA software version 12. Bi-variate and multivariate analysis was carried out to ascertain the association between dependent and independent variables. Results: A total of 758 (97.9%) small-scale industry workers were interviewed. A one-year prevalence rate of at least one occupational injury among the small-scale industry workers was 58.2%. Use of personal protective equipments [AOR=3.43, 95%CI: 2.39-4.94], age of respondent’s [AOR=1.51, 95%CI: 1.02 - 2.25], number of years worked in the same job [AOR=2.89, 95%CI: 1.88-4.43], number of hours worked per week [AOR=2.73, 95%CI: 1.92- 3.87], and the job category; metalworkers [AOR=3.17, 95%CI: 2.07-4.85] and wood workers [AOR=2.34, 95%CI: 1.39-3.92] were found to be significantly associated factors with occupational injury among small-scale industry workers. Conclusion: This study concludes that the prevalence of occupational injuries among small-scale industry workers was considerably high. Hence, promoting occupational safety and health through appropriate prevention programs and provision of comprehensive occupational health and safety services with the provisions of personal protective devices, and focused interventions for young, less experienced, workers who work for extended hours (>48 hours per week) and workers working on metal and wood works are highly advised.