KNOWLEDGE OF OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY MEASURES AMONG HOUSE KEEPERS IN BABCOCK UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (BUTH), OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Background: Occupational health and safety is a critical issue due to the high rates of linked disease and mortality among exposed workers. Each year, an estimated 400,000 new cases of occupational diseases are reported, and they result in the deaths of an estimated 100,000 persons [6]. The housekeepers are frequently exposed to other infectious agents, such as tuberculosis, influenza, HIV, and Hepatitis B, which have been the main focus of research and safety programs, in addition to exposures to emerging diseases [11]. Methods: A cross sectional study design. Data was collected using self-administered structured questionnaire and entered into the computer using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. The chi-square test was used to access level of association between socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge and practice of occupational hazard. Socioeconomic, knowledge, attitude and practice was summarized using frequency tables and cross tabulations. A P-value of equal or less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Total sampling technique was used. Results: A total of 80 respondents participated in the study. The mean age was 32.34±9.32 years. Majority was female (75.0%) and had secondary education as highest level of education (70.0%). All the respondents had good knowledge (100.0%), 95% had good attitude and 55.0% had good practice towards utilization of PPE. Conclusion: There was a good relationship between attitude and practice of occupational safety measures among housekeepers in Babcock University Teaching Hospital (BUTH).