Browsing by Author "Naidoo, Saloshni."
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Item Profile of sickness absenteeism at the Consul Glass factory, Clayville, Midrand, 2004.(2008) Suleman, Fatima.; Naidoo, Saloshni.INTRODUCTION Sick leave absenteeism is a recognized problem in all work sectors. The financial impact of sick leave has been well-documented. A profile of sick leave records can establish the extent of the sick leave problem in a workplace, the associated and predisposing factors for sick leave and the patterns of sick leave amongst workers. A baseline profile of the sick leave patterns in a workplace should be a preliminary step toward developing a programme aimed at the improvement of workers' health and attendance at work. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of this study was to profile recorded sick leave for 2004 amongst permanent workers at the Consul Factory in Olifantsfontein, Midrand, Johannesburg in order to make recommendations to management. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study using a retrospective review of sick leave records of permanent workers at the Consul Glass factory for 2004. Information gathered included the demographic profile of workers who recorded sick leave, the frequency of sick leave, associated factors for sick leave, health care choices of workers with sick leave and the reasons for sick leave. Descriptive and analytic statistics have been presented. RESULTS • Workers over the age of fifty years had sick leave of longer duration compared to those younger than 50 years old (p<0.05). The median hours taken off for sick leave was higher in the male subgroup compared to the female subgroup of workers in the study population (p<0.05); • Workers from the production areas had more sick leave episodes for the year than workers from the non-production areas (p<0.05). Workers with bronchitis working in the production areas of the factory, had longer duration of sick leave compared to workers with bronchitis working in the nonproduction areas of the factory (p<0.05); • Workers on a variable shift schedule took more sick leave on days of the week that were unlinked to weekends and public holidays (p<0.05).A longer duration of sick leave occurred with certified sick leave compared with self reported sick leave (p<0.05); • In the study population, the majority were not medical aid members. Medical aid members had a longer duration of sick leave per episode compared to non-medical aid members (P<0.05); • Respiratory tract infection was the most common reason for sick leave. Of the ten most common reasons for sick leave, there was a significant difference in the mean number of hours of sick leave taken per episode for dental treatment and backache (p<0.05); • There was a significant difference in the mean number of hours of sick leave recommended by the four different sources of sick notes (p<0.05); • There was a significant association for worker interviews/counselling by the Human Resources' Department official and the worker having had four or more episodes of sick leave for the year (p<0.05). CONCLUSION The profile of sick leave at this company identified important associations with sick leave patterns. These significant findings provide management with baseline information, which can be used for the development of workplace interventions to address the taking of sick leave at the Consul Glass factory.Item Tuberculosis among health care workers in hospitals in the Ethekwini Municipality of KwaZulu-Natal.(2006) Naidoo, Saloshni.; Jinabhai, Champaklal Chhaganlal.Tuberculosis is a disease of global importance and remains the leading cause of death in the developing world. In South Africa a weak notification system and poor occupational health services for health care workers has resulted in little information being available about the incidence of tuberculosis and the groups at highest risk of contracting tuberculosis amongst health care workers, the clinical presentation and management of workers infected with tuberculosis. The purpose of this study was to describe the incidence of tuberculosis, and the clinical and public health aspects of the management of tuberculosis among health care workers in eight public sector hospitals in the Ethekwini Municipality of KwaZulu-Natal. Data was collected through a retrospective review of hospital records for the study period January 1999 to June 2004. Study findings: Five hundred and eighty three (N=583) health care workers were diagnosed with tuberculosis for the period under review. The mean age of the HCWs was 38 years (95% Cl: 37-39). The mean cumulative incidence for the study period was 1040/100 000 HCW population (95% Cl: 838-1242). The mean cumulative incidence of TB was highest in males (1544/100 000 HCW population; 95% Cl 1228 -1859), the age group 25 to 34 years (1043/100 000 HCW population; 95% CI: 650 -1436) and in paramedical staff (1675/100 000 HCW population; 95%CI: 880-2470). The majority of health care workers presented with pulmonary tuberculosis (77%, n=322) and 3% (n=13) had multidrug resistant tuberculosis. Successful treatment outcomes were achieved in 63% (n=334) of health care workers. Only one hospital has a work place policy with regard tuberculosis in health care workers. Compensation for this occupational disease was sought as follows. Submissions of a first medical report were made in 107 (18%) of the 583 health care workers. In the 107 cases initially reported submission of progress reports (n=75; 70%) and final reports (n=60; 56%) decreased considerably. In conclusion, the incidence of tuberculosis in health care workers has increased annually since 1999 and the treatment outcomes among health care workers do not reach the targets set by the National Tuberculosis Control Programme. Recommendations based on the study findings include establishing a uniform provincial policy for the prevention and reduction of tuberculosis infections among health care workers for implementation in hospitals; the implementation of a medical surveillance system for health care workers with respect to tuberculosis and a provincial training programme for staff on the clinical and administrative management of TB in health care workers.