Prevalence and factors influencing sickness absence a cross sectional study among workers in a ship building industry in Lumut, Perak

Abstract

This study is to determine and compare the annual prevalence rate and risk factors of sickness absences among shipbuilding industry in the District of Manjung in Perak in year 2009. This cross sectional study was conducted among 387 workers. Sickness absences were compared by gender, age, education levels, chronic illnesses, hazards, pre and post weekend holidays. Data were collected using self administered questionnaire. Results showed that the prevalence was 7 4.9%. The total numbers of Malay respondents were (354) and the male were (305). Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the causes of sickness absences. There were significant association between sickness absences and pressure at work place where it increases 2.5 fold of sickness absences (OR: 2.485, 95% Cl: 1.203, 1.42 to 4.54). Similarly, there were a significant association between marital status and sickness absences with an increase of 2.8 fold (OR: 2.804, 95% Cl: 1.531 to 5.135). The study also revealed significant association between sickness absences and chronic illnesses (p=0.005). It increases by 2.5 fold of sickness absences with those who were having chronic illnesses (OR: 2.5, 95% Cl: 1.203 to 1.533). Chronic medical illnesses, pressure at work place and marital status were the important predictor of sickness absences. The study however did not reveal a significant association between sickness absences and ethnicity, age group, shift working, differences in education level and even matching salary.