Ergonomic risk factors and musculoskeletal disorders among healthcare professionals in Ghana

Background Globally, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have been on the increase, especially among health professionals in Ghana. This is the highest reason for health worker absenteeism in Ghana. While several studies have been conducted in this area, there is a lack of scientific knowledge assessing the magnitude of the problem, particularly among different cadres of healthcare professionals in Ghana. Methods The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design among 192 health professionals. Self-administered structured questionnaires were used to collect data and SPSS (version 26.0) was used to analyse data. Results Findings from the study revealed all health workers had experienced Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) in their line of duty at the hospital with lower and upper back pain (90.7%) and neck pain (89.3%) being the most reported. The study again noted that older healthcare professionals were more likely to have MSDs than those of younger ages (Odds Ratio = 1.87; 95% CI = 1.62, 2.21; p = 0.002). Females were also more likely to get MSDs than males (Odds Ratio = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.49, 1.89; p = 0.001). Conclusion The study concludes that, while MSD is prevalent among Ghanaian healthcare professionals, this issue has garnered little attention from the key stakeholders addressing it. The research therefore recommends substantial investments in modern technology and the retooling of the healthcare sector to lessen the physical strain or manual involvement required in performing their duties. The study also advocates for regular occupational health and safety training to enhance knowledge of MSD among healthcare professionals in Ghana.