Association of occupation and safety practices with work-injury absence among public hospital employees in Latin America: a study from Costa Rica.
BACKGROUND
Injury-related statistics in developing countries are rare.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between occupational and safety-related risk factors and absences from work during the preceding 6 months due to work-related injury among public hospital employees in Costa Rica.


METHODS
Data were used from a cross-sectional survey conducted in December 2000 among a stratified random sample of 1000 employees from 10 of the 29 public hospitals in Costa Rica. The questionnaire included sociodemographic data, occupational exposures, and organizational risk factors. A dichotomous variable was created to indicate work-injury absence. At-risk employees (n = 466) were classified as having had a work-injury absence if they reported having been absent for at least 1 day in the preceding 6 months because of a work-related injury. OR and 95% CI were calculated using unconditional logistic regression models.


RESULTS
There is a greater likelihood of injury-related absence in non-professional occupational positions (ie, auxiliary personnel (OR = 2.29) and general services employees (OR = 5.55)) than in professional positions, and in employees who show poor compliance with safety practices (OR = 2.03) and have high interference from their job task (OR = 3.79) compared with their counterparts.


CONCLUSIONS
Work-injury absence appears not only to be a function of work injury, but also a function of occupation and degree of compliance with safety practices.
International Institute for Society and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCL Medical School, London, UK.
David
D
Gimeno
Sarah A
SA
Felknor
Keith D
KD
Burau
George L
GL
Delclos
Tonatiuh
T
Barrientos-Gutiérrez
D000041:Absenteeism; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D003364:Costa Rica; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*