Evaluation of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Housekeepers in Selected Hotels in Mombasa County, Kenya

Abstract

Housekeepers in hotels attend to many clients who have varied needs. Many have complained of low back pain, which may be attributed to their working conditions, among other factors. Based on this backdrop, the study sought to evaluate work-related musculoskeletal disorders among housekeepers in selected hotels within Mombasa County. The study's objectives were to assess the annual prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, determine the risk factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders, and ascertain strategies to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders among housekeepers in selected hotels in Mombasa County. The research design employed in this study was descriptive. The study targeted the housekeepers of registered hotels within Mombasa County. The sample size of 245 housekeepers was obtained by considering all the housekeepers available at the time of study from the purposefully 18 hotels selected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary data collection tools were semi-structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and observation methods. A pilot study was conducted to test the questionnaire's validity and reliability. Collected data were descriptively analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 23). The chi-square test and linear regression were applied to test the association between study variables. Analyzed data was presented using tables, graphs, and pie charts. While 91.7% of the housekeepers in selected hotels in Mombasa County complained of muscle and joint pains, a sign of work-related musculoskeletal disorder, the study established that only 42.4% sought medical advice. The results indicated that while gender was found not to have significance relationship with having individual preventive measures, the study found age, level of education and service duration to have significant (P< .05) relationship with individual having preventive measures of MSDs. Individual preventive measures, hotel preventive measures and adequacy of preventive measures significantly (P< .05) influenced WRMSD among the respondents. Carrying, lifting, pulling and pushing heavy things was also established to have a significant (P< .05) relationship with MSDs. The study concluded that long working hours, repetitive daily bed making, daily carrying, lifting, pushing, and pulling heavy things (more than 20 Kilograms) were the risk factors associated with MSDs among housekeepers. The study also concluded that there were preventive strategies to prevent WRMSDs among housekeepers. However, they were inadequate, and much-needed priority and attention were not given, especially by the younger workers below 45 years of age and the less educated (below diploma). The study recommended that hotels employ adequate staff to ensure reasonable breaks, job rotation, and teamwork and that the hotels should also consider mechanization of equipment, practical training, and reinforcing laws through health committees.