Abstract:
Background: Work-related stress is becoming an alarmingly growing public health concern
worldwide. It is one of the major occupational health issues in high-income countries. Also due
to globalization and changes in working conditions, people in low-income countries face
growing work-related stress. Despite high prevalence globally, work-related stress among factory
workers is not well studied in Ethiopia.
Objective: To assess work-related stress and associated factors among employees of Hawassa
industrial park, Hawassa, southern Ethiopia, 2021.
Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was employed among 419 employees of
Hawassa industrial park using an interviewer-administered structured and pretested questionnaire
through a face-to-face interview. A Simple random sampling technique was employed to get the
sample and workplace stress scale (WPSS) was used to assess work-related stress. The collected
data were coded and entered into EPI data 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis.
Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify associated
factors. The statistical significance was considered at P-value <0.05.
Result: A total of 413 ressondents were involved in the study giving response rate of 98.6%. Of
respondents 295(71.4%) were female and 118(28.6%) were male with mean age of 26.7 (SD =
5.707) year. Overall prevalence of work-related stress was 47.5%, 95% CI (43.2, 52.1).
Temporary employment [AOR=0.41, 95% CI (.26-.64)], poor working condition [AOR = 2.12,
95% CI (1.32-3.43)], work experience <21/2yr [AOR = 3.11, 95% CI (1.95-4.96)], poor learning
opportunity [AOR= 1.82, 95% CI (1.10-2.30)], poor organizational support [AOR = 1.70, 95%
CI (1.10-2.62)], current use of khat [AOR = 2.52, 95% CI (1.28-4.99)] and current use of alcohol
[AOR = 2.27, 95% CI (1.44-3.58)] were significantly associated with work-related stress.
Conclusion and recommendation: The prevalence of work-related stress among employees of
Hawassa industrial park was high. Temporary employment, poor working conditions, work
experience <21/2 years, poor learning opportunities, poor organizational support, current khat
use, and current use of alcohol were significantly associated with work-related stress. Enhancing
stress management skills and primary prevention on identified risk factors was recommended.
