SICKNESS ABSENTEEISM AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HORTICULTURE EMPLOYEES IN LUME DISTRICT, SOUTHEAST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Introduction: Throughout the world sickness absenteeism, one indicator of health status is continues to be serious public health problems causing lost labor time and obstacle to productivity. This problem is continued to be of great concern where underprivileged occupational health services (less than 5%) exist in developing countries including Ethiopia. Objective: To determine prevalence of sickness absenteeism and associated factors among horticulture employees in Lume District, Southeast Ethiopia. Methods: Institution based cross sectional study including 600 employees from all horticulture organizations in the district from March to April, 2014. Stratified sampling by simple random sampling among the three main departments was used to select study participants. Data were collected using pre-tested and interviewer administered structured questionnaire by trained data collectors and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used. Significance level was obtained withAOR at 95% CI and p<0.05. Results: From the total 590 respondents,424(71.9%) were female and 418 (70.8%) werein agecategory of 19 to 29 years.The three month prevalence of sickness absenteeism among horticulture employees was 58.8%with 6.6 average working day lostper employee resulting in loss of 74,203 birr in the last three months. Being secondary education [AOR=0.49, 95% CI :(0.30, 0.79)] & not getting attendance-based incentive [AOR=0.49, 95% CI (0.32, 0.75)] were protective while lack of periodic medical examination [AOR=3.58, 95% CI (2.10, 6.09)], job dissatisfaction [AOR=1.76, 95% CI (1.16, 2.65)], being stressed with workplace [AOR=2.02, 95% CI (1.38, 2.94)] and poor in general health status [AOR=3.17, 95% CI (2.07, 4.87)] were factors positively associated with sickness absenteeism. Conclusion:prevalence of sickness absenteeism among horticulture employees was high when compared with other study in developing country. Being secondary education, getting attendance-based incentive, lack of periodic medical examination, job dissatisfaction and poor in general health status were significantly associated with sickness absenteeism. Therefore, Interventions should focus on promoting higher education, conducive work environment and improving health of employees and periodic health surveillance.