Work-related injuries and illnesses among kitchen workers at two major students' hostels.

BACKGROUND: Kitchen workers face a disproportionately high risk of injuries and illnesses. Yet, despite the ubiquity of kitchen-related injuries, there has been a relative lack of comprehensive research on this topic, particularly in developing countries. Ain Shams University, as a prestigious educational institution with its diverse kitchen staff, provides an ideal setting for studying the challenges faced in professional kitchens. This study aims to measure the prevalence of work-related injuries and illnesses among kitchen workers of two major students' hostels at Ain Shams University in Cairo and to explore their risk factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study involving kitchen staff from two hostels that house students at the university was carried out in 2021. The study involved all kitchen staff in the dorms for students (n = 128). Data was collected using a structured interview questionnaire. RESULTS: The findings showed a significant prevalence of work-related illnesses (81.3%) and injuries (77.3%) among restaurant employees. Age, education, and job type all had a statistically significant relationship with the frequency of work-related injuries over the previous year. Additionally, there was a statistically significant relationship between age, job type, and the frequency of diseases among kitchen workers (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cooks and other food service employees are more susceptible to occupational diseases and injuries in the workplace. Restaurants and the university hostel authorities should implement preventative measures and policies to lower the risk of harm among these employees by offering occupational health and safety services such as training and education programs, personal protective equipment, and regular health examinations.

Frequency and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among kitchen workers.

BACKGROUND: Kitchen work is associated with exposure to heavy workload which has been linked to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) and many other occupational hazards. This study aimed to measure the frequency of WRMSDs related to working in kitchens of two major Egyptian students' hostels, to determine the associated risk factors, and determine the distribution of musculoskeletal problems in various joints in different job categories. METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out among 128 kitchen workers of two major students' hostels in Cairo, Egypt. A structured interview questionnaire was used to collect information on personal and occupational data and the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in the past 12 months based on the valid Nordic musculoskeletal disorders questionnaire (NMQ). RESULTS: The study revealed that the majority of kitchen workers (90.6%) at the students' hostel reported WRMSDs within the past 12 months. The lower back (64.8%), knee (46.9%), foot (46.1%), neck (29.7%), and shoulders (23.4%) were the most affected sites. Age, educational status, job category, job duration, and body mass index (BMI) were significantly associated with WRMSDs among kitchen workers. CONCLUSION: kitchen workers are at a high risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to the poor work environment, the massive workload, and great time pressure to perform their duties. Interventions such as hiring more workers of younger age, providing rest breaks, and health education about occupational hazards to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal problems should be reinforced.

Perceived benefits and barriers towards exercise among healthcare providers in Ain Shams University Hospitals, Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity is considered a problem with great impact on morbidity and mortality. There is a necessity to combat this behavior through an assessment of barriers and benefits perceived by subjects. OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed to measure exercise intention, in addition to identifying physical exercise predictors, including perceived barriers and benefits among healthcare providers (HCPs) in Ain Shams University Hospitals. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed on a sample (n = 327) of healthcare providers (physicians and nurses) in Ain Shams University Hospitals in Cairo, Egypt, using anonymous self-administrated questionnaires and relevant scales. RESULTS: Out of 327 healthcare providers approached, 52.6% of them were males and the mean age of participants was (29.34 ± 7.84 years). Physical exercise was reported by 44.6% of participants. The most significant factors associated with physical exercise engagement were male gender, participants with lower body mass index (BMI), and those with higher perceived "life enhancement subscale" benefit score and lower perceived exercise milieu and physical exertion barriers subscale scores. Exercisers showed significantly higher total overall (benefits and barriers) score compared to non-exercisers. Physicians showed a significantly higher total score compared to nurses. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The prevalence of regular exercise is low and inversely related to the female gender, BMI, Exercise milieu, and Physical exertion barriers subscale scores, and directly related to life enhancement benefit subscale score. Health education program about the benefits and barriers of exercise is recommended to encourage healthcare personnel to follow a healthy lifestyle as a role model to their patients and to act as health promoters to them.

Frequent transient hepatitis C viremia without seroconversion among healthcare workers in Cairo, Egypt.

BACKGROUNDS: With 10% of the general population aged 15-59 years chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), Egypt is the country with the highest HCV prevalence worldwide. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are therefore at particularly high risk of HCV infection. Our aim was to study HCV infection risk after occupational blood exposure among HCWs in Cairo. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The study was conducted in 2008-2010 at Ain Shams University Hospital, Cairo. HCWs reporting an occupational blood exposure at screening, having neither anti-HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) nor HCV RNA, and exposed to a HCV RNA positive patient, were enrolled in a 6-month prospective cohort with follow-up visits at weeks 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24. During follow-up, anti-HCV, HCV RNA and ALT were tested. Among 597 HCWs who reported a blood exposure, anti-HCV prevalence at screening was 7.2%, not different from that of the general population of Cairo after age-standardization (11.6% and 10.4% respectively, p = 0.62). The proportion of HCV viremia among index patients was 37%. Of 73 HCWs exposed to HCV RNA from index patients, nine (12.3%; 95%CI, 5.8-22.1%) presented transient viremia, the majority of which occurred within the first two weeks after exposure. None of the workers presented seroconversion or elevation of ALT. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: HCWs of a general University hospital in Cairo were exposed to a highly viremic patient population. They experienced frequent occupational blood exposures, particularly in early stages of training. These exposures resulted in transient viremic episodes without established infection. These findings call for further investigation of potential immune protection against HCV persistence in this high risk group.