Quantum Journal of Medical and Health Sciences

OCCUPATIONAL RISKS AND HAZARDS ASSESSMENT AMONG VEHICLE ARTISANS AT SUAME MAGAZINES, KUMASI, GHANA

MAGDALENE PHILIP UMOH — 2023-03-24

Occupational health and safety have been an issue as far back as people has gained workplace employment. Occupational Health and Safety aims at; promoting and maintaining the maximum degree of physical, mental and social welfare of workers in all professions; preventing employees from health problems arising from inappropriate working conditions; protecting workers in their workplaces from risks resulting from factors adverse to health; positioning and sustaining a worker in a working environment that is appropriate to his mental and emotional ability and; the adaptation of work to the man and not a man to work. A cross-sectional study by design and analytical by type was adopted for the research and utilized both quantitative and qualitative approaches. A total of 233 interviewees were randomly selected employing a stratified random sampling technique from 3 units of welders, sprayers and mechanics. Data was analyzed into descriptive and inferential statistics at p<0.05 using STATA vs 14.0 software. All the artisans sampled were male with a mean age of 32.28. Persons between the age brackets of 18-37 years constituted the majority. More than half (59.23%) of the artisans had junior high school education. Employees were exposed to physical hazards such as noise (67.38%), heat (62.66%), and smoke (60.52%); chemical hazards such as petrol and diesel; and ergonomic hazards like prolonged standing (92.27%), bending (69.1%), squatting (64.3%), and lying under the car (63.95%). The study concludes that regardless of the educational qualification of artisans, exposure to work-related hazards still occurs.

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND COMPLIANCE TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PRACTICES AMONG VEHICLE ARTISANS

MAGDALENE PHILIP UMOH — 2023-03-24

Occupational health hazards pose a significant public health problem that has severe social and economic implications. Occupational health and safety is the science of predicting, identifying, evaluating and managing the hazards occurring in or from the workstation that could affect the safety and well-being of employees, taking into account the possible effects on the surrounding neighbourhoods and the general environment. Vehicle artisans, also known as mechanics, apply chemicals that may be hazardous to carry out vehicle repairs. Chemical spraying is the most efficient way of applying solvents, penetrating lubricants, and cleaners that are often uniquely shaped or hard-to-access areas of a vehicle. A cross-sectional study was conducted among artisans from May 1 to September 30, 2020. Data from 233 respondents utilizing both quantitative and qualitative approaches were obtained. Study participants were randomly selected employing a stratified random sampling technique from 3 units of welders, sprayers and mechanics. Data was analyzed into descriptive and inferential statistics at p<0.05 using STATA vs 14.0 software. All the artisans sampled were male with a mean age of 32.28. Persons between the age brackets of 18-37 years constituted the majority. More than half (59.23%) of the artisans had junior high school education. Lack of training (80.26%) and discomfort in wearing PPE was associated with poor application of safety procedures. The study also revealed that more than half of the employees (59.66%) sought medical treatment from a health physician. The study, therefore, concludes that although vehicle artisans have good health-seeking behaviour, hazards and accident prevention requires training and adherence to safety application at all levels.

VEHICLE ARTISAN ACCESSIBILITY TO BASIC FIRST AID AND HUGIENE PRACTICES AT SUAME MAGAZINE, GHANA

MAGDALENE PHILIP UMOH — 2023-03-24

Vehicle repair artisans are engaged in a profession with high levels of occupational health hazards and workplace injuries which can impact employees. The activities of vehicle repairs artisans expose them to a number of risks and workplace hazards. The relevance of first aid equipment and sanitary facilities cannot be overlooked among artisans in auto-mobile garages. Therefore, the absence of basic firefighting and safety equipment such as extinguishers and fire alarms in the shops coupled with lack of training on fire management among the artisans, pose a huge threat to human life and properties in the workstation. The use of water, leaves, and sand to put out fires in cases of fire outbreaks does not provide an adequate fire protection mechanism in the shops. A cross sectional study by design and analytical by type was adopted for the research, and utilized both quantitative and qualitative approaches. A total of 233 interviewees were randomly selected employing a stratified random sampling technique from 3 units of welders, sprayers and mechanics. Data was analyzed into a descriptive and inferential statistics at p<0.05 using STATA vs 14.0 software. All the artisans sampled were male with a mean age of 32.28. Persons between the age brackets of 18-37 years constituted the majority. More than half (59.23%) of the artisans had junior high school education. Fire extinguishers (79.4%), first aid boxes (82.4%), rest rooms (54.51%), and showers (92.7%) were mostly unavailable. The findings further showed that although (82.4%) artisans upheld to regular hand washing with soap at the workplace, it was not done properly to intentionally remove grease and deposits beneath the finger nails from observation made. The study concludes that, there is non-availability of basic first aids and sanitary amenities in the automobile workshop. Similarly, hand washing by artisans was not done properly to intentionally remove grease and deposits of dirt beneath the finger nails from observation made. Artisans are either unenlightened or indifferent about the dangers and health implication of poor hand hygiene.

POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME (PCOS): A LIFESTYLE UPSHOT AND CLUSTER OF MALADIES

ANUJA BHALERAO — 2023-03-24

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous endocrine disorder that distresses millions of females all over the world during their procreative age of 18–44 years. This syndrome leads to the complexities such as numerous cysts, and an irregular menstrual cycle eventually manifesting in infertility. Complications like insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease are also associated. Several studies have confirmed the genetic basis of PCOS by identifying many candidate genes. Thus, PCOS is a multigenic, multifactorial, deregulated steroid state with a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease manifesting predominantly due to lifestyle fallacies. Diagnosis of PCOS is through ultrasound scanning and biochemical analysis. Medications include oral contraceptive pills, metformin, and hormones which will bypass or reverse the ill effects of PCOS. However, lifestyle correction to prevent aberrant immune activation and minimized exposure to inflammatory agents appears to be a sustainable therapy. This review primarily aims to understand the various aspects of PCOS viz., the pathophysiology of irregularity of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), anomalies in leptin-adiponectin and oxidative stress, genetic and molecular causes (candidate gene associated), environmental factors, metabolic factors, and a role of the irregular circadian rhythm. Prevailing treatment recommends a multicomponent diet and a healthy lifestyle to manage PCOS and avoid its comorbidities.