TY  - BOOK
AU  -  Ritha L. Mkwela  
AU  -  Magwa A. Kiyumbi
TI  - Occupational Health and Safety Practices Among Undergraduate Health Professions Students Attending Clinical Practices at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) 
PY  - 2023///
CY  - Mwanza, Tanzania: 
PB  - Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS – Bugando] : 
KW  -  
N2  - Abstract:

Background: Occupational health and safety practices is the concept created to eliminate risks associated with the workplace. The undergraduate health professions students are constantly exposed to harmful physical, chemical, psychological, and biological hazards. This concept serves as a mechanism to minimize workplace accidents to an acceptable level, safeguarding the health, protection and well-being of the undergraduate health professions students at work. There is limited information on the gaps and needs of occupational health services in workplaces for undergraduate health professions students in BMC. This study will assess the occupational health and safety practices among selected consented undergraduate health professions students attending clinical practices at Bugando Medical Centre.

Methodology: A cross sectional study involving 384 Undergraduate health professions students attending clinical practices at Bugando Medical Center was conducted from July to August 2023 at BMC IN Mwanza Tanzania. A number of 384 questionnaires were prepared to facilitate the work of data collection from the participants. Data collected was inserted in Excel and then data analysis was done using SPSS version 20 software. 

Result: Findings of the study revealed that majority of participants 65.7% reported to adhere on standard practice during their clinical rotation so as to prevent occupational illnesses and diseases in clinical areas, although few participants 34.4% do not adhere on standard clinical practice, most of them do not adhere due to work overload making them too busy hence ignored some standard operating practices. Also, study findings revealed that most of participants 95.6% are knowledgeable and know the importance of occupational health and safety practices in health care setting, only few participants 4.4% are not aware about it.

Conclusion:  Undergraduate students during their clinical rotation on the other hand are required to comply with all health and safety rules, knowing that the person ultimately responsible for his/her health and safety is himself/herself.  Students are required to wear protective clothing, use equipment and tools provided for their work, and report any contravention of the law by management. Also, undergraduate students have the right to refuse unsafe work.

ER  -