E.C. ISAH

Background: Occupational health aims to promote and maintain the highest level of physical, mental, and social well-being among workers, including healthcare workers (HCWs), who face significant workplace risks. Despite being the backbone of any health system, HCWs are frequently exposed to hazards such as needle stick injuries, infections, back injuries, and stress, often prioritizing patient care over their own well-being. Protecting the health of HCWs not only safeguards their welfare but also enhances the quality of patient care and strengthens healthcare systems. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), particularly work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs), pose a significant risk to HCWs due to the physical demands of their work, including heavy lifting and awkward postures. Preventing WRMSDs requires the application of ergonomic principles, such as proper workspace design, the use of assistive devices, and maintaining correct posture during tasks. Ergonomic interventions can reduce the risk of MSDs, improve safety, and enhance job performance, benefiting both healthcare workers and the patients they serve. Objectives: The study was carried out to investigate the types and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, ergonomic risk factors and coping strategies adopted by healthcare workers in University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 329 healthcare workers using a stratified random sampling technique for selection. Structured self-administered questionnaires were used for data collection and data was analyzed with IBM SPSS Version 27.0.1 software utilizing univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis.

Background: The rates of burnout globally among university lecturers are reported to range from 5% and 45%. The demand of high standard quality services has increased with the on-going globalization worldwide. The estimate of burnout among university lecturers often yield high values and varies between countries, across time, specialties or work sector, i.e. public/private or rural/urban. Education, and especially higher education (University), is one of the areas with the highest prevalence of burnout, which some authors estimate to be 40%. Objectives: To assess burnout among university lecturers working in University of
Benin, Benin City, Edo State, to identify and address potential issues that could affect their well-being and job performance. Materials And Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was utilized for this study. Five hundred and forty nine respondents were selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire comprising both opened ended and closed questions addressing the knowledge, prevalence, determinant and coping strategy of burnout. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25.0 and a p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The response rate in this study was 100%. Most of the respondents from this study were in the age group 40-49 with mean age group of 41.88(+ 6.23) years. Out of the total respondents, 517 (94.2%) had good knowledge while 32 (5.2%) had poor knowledge of burnout. Prevalence of burnout among university lecturers were high in about five hundred and eighteen (97.5) of the respondents. Length of career, faculty and age were the factors found to have affected the knowledge and prevalence. XIII Majority of the respondents 98.0% had positive coping strategy, with most of the respondents 376(68.5%) got help and advice from other people as a coping strategy. Conclusion: Majority of university lecturers in University of Benin, Benin City had good knowledge of burnout syndrome, had burnout, with high grades of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishments. Over nine-tenths of the university lecturers in University of Benin, Benin City reported work overload, being underpaid, insufficient sleep, lack of incentives and promotions, and time pressures to meet deadlines as major factors that could lead to burnout among them. Also, most of the respondents got positive coping strategy