Systematizing Information Use to Address Determinants of Health
Worker Health in South Africa: A Cross-sectional Mixed Method Study
Dublin Core
Title
Systematizing Information Use to Address Determinants of Health
Worker Health in South Africa: A Cross-sectional Mixed Method Study
Worker Health in South Africa: A Cross-sectional Mixed Method Study
Subject
Health information system
Health workers
Worker rights
Information system
Occupational health
Health workers
Worker rights
Information system
Occupational health
Description
Recognizing that access to safe and healthy working conditions is a human right, the World
Health Organization (WHO) calls for specific occupational safety and health (OSH) programs for health
workers (HWs). The WHO health systems’ building blocks, and the International Labour Organization
(ILO), highlight the importance of information as part of effective systems. This study examined how OSH
stakeholders access, use, and value an occupational health information system (OHIS).
Methods: A cross-sectional survey of OSH stakeholders was conducted as part of a larger quasi experimental study in four teaching hospitals. The study hospitals and participants were purposefully selected
and data collected using a modified questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions. Quantitative analysis was conducted and themes identified for qualitative analysis. Ethics approval was provided by the University of Pretoria and University of British Columbia.
Results: There were 71 participants comprised of hospital managers, health and safety representatives,
trade unions representatives and OSH professionals. At least 42% reported poor accessibility and poor
timeliness of OHIS for decision-making. Only 50% had access to computers and 27% reported poor
computer skills. When existing, OHIS was poorly organized and needed upgrades, with 85% reporting the
need for significant reforms. Only 45% reported use of OHIS for decision-making in their OSH role.
Conclusion: Given the gap in access and utilization of information needed to protect worker’s rights to a
safe and healthy workplace, more attention is warranted to OHIS development and use as well as education and training in South Africa and beyond
Health Organization (WHO) calls for specific occupational safety and health (OSH) programs for health
workers (HWs). The WHO health systems’ building blocks, and the International Labour Organization
(ILO), highlight the importance of information as part of effective systems. This study examined how OSH
stakeholders access, use, and value an occupational health information system (OHIS).
Methods: A cross-sectional survey of OSH stakeholders was conducted as part of a larger quasi experimental study in four teaching hospitals. The study hospitals and participants were purposefully selected
and data collected using a modified questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions. Quantitative analysis was conducted and themes identified for qualitative analysis. Ethics approval was provided by the University of Pretoria and University of British Columbia.
Results: There were 71 participants comprised of hospital managers, health and safety representatives,
trade unions representatives and OSH professionals. At least 42% reported poor accessibility and poor
timeliness of OHIS for decision-making. Only 50% had access to computers and 27% reported poor
computer skills. When existing, OHIS was poorly organized and needed upgrades, with 85% reporting the
need for significant reforms. Only 45% reported use of OHIS for decision-making in their OSH role.
Conclusion: Given the gap in access and utilization of information needed to protect worker’s rights to a
safe and healthy workplace, more attention is warranted to OHIS development and use as well as education and training in South Africa and beyond
Creator
Muzimkhulu Zungu 1,2,*, Annalee Yassi 3
, Jonathan Ramodike 1,2
, Kuku Voyi 2
,
Karen Lockhart 3
, David Jones 1
, Spo Kgalamono 1,4
, Nkululeko Thunzi 1
, Jerry Spiegel 3
, Jonathan Ramodike 1,2
, Kuku Voyi 2
,
Karen Lockhart 3
, David Jones 1
, Spo Kgalamono 1,4
, Nkululeko Thunzi 1
, Jerry Spiegel 3
Source
https://pdf.sciencedirectassets.com/287282/1-s2.0-S2093791123X00055/1-s2.0-S2093791123000720/main.pdf?X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEDoaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJIMEYCIQDWJKMmJb%2F8Ag42fIrJ%2FBYKcr42%2FnvGz7sJFf0qN6kCpgIhAK9RvxZDZiqIRhxNdwushqkJvS6a1xYYBUJh9r233DsfKrIFCAMQBRoMMDU5MDAzNTQ2ODY1IgxDkieobhbIQesE06cqjwU5SYABwXq8wffRz1Jhg0EAREU2Tqr7V61b4LKJZZZbyEkW6pDwpcvynJQ9pT3Z59YeUNNCkLUbAckI0Z%2BFm2JdmUlpIxDvq%2BnHCDrFwgOpLh9Hgrb9ELOHkTsJtHKbTCUuK06gT3y2D3RPcXFVGmA3hkJIXKm68pHu0fgjGmak3ZNKMNo9%2BJHVJRDLwzGSecQtlQuesq9PqIFjHt6SDhZdxdYzsDDIeoK4vei9oX28qNC7DqLu%2B2MEbM8PioX5HyldJDy%2B28ys1cPvCXGbc4pmEv0%2BCLxwsZwS9Sg43KmUBiw79c9UDfZXdXwtwFFCXk7jQTZty11IE2HrDvCZO7Pz0ttQs5hbKz59EYe1lm032AbXoBW1Rv6BnYawQlzl%2F%2BCpdM9Gb6CVNjHORG2OCC8pvX4PX%2FgYo495TGsbQma%2FdhGMBWCv4%2BgLK%2FFaMzN7FD0%2BzRsUjJ9Q2GxhjsMbtBVcpjtiuycXhtCK%2FcZugq67l9BHKpDjmoXN7i%2BsS6M7QFCMy8ZgBuXYzN9j4jK1hrQeSZvfszZqezR0herL%2B%2B5DT79xCFu5yTDTJ73bKHIJXo4Jm%2BtEGgpqnWThY30UqHMDwi3MAXjMCjkD0HJdZ4kBGDy9xEVlhWKTiiT%2Fo0RjW3oWpxBmLpxK0ZELvPvIZTFokBC96S6efUZcTUTMhse0GVUj2OREKpgxaHc84wn9tcHbOKLSjtnGZVmqXQdWeqDKuR0FySXO57nvjq5Gy3QAGkPUtQUc%2FOuX8%2Fad1lYb1uaAkpWleR7HM7XXF%2BEFcWSDnzKsSyp00gp962i9lKtfodYhNvMqBAjEbGOoBbU50lqfrpsziqulJvUSg5%2FAt7lRx9C%2FFxoK9t%2BEFaLFPOW8MMmd%2BcwGOrABaIqQSk80OhGQl86%2FEr0Ql8%2BkakBttxZYsYLWJL5TmyHrkecOYUlYnPoQZgv8pAyytvZPMjEqhsimQg8rZCt0wEd4vl9Ay6s%2FRufEO5tUtrCsdVVIs8HBzq08NYItuVwBvtXGti4F%2BvPSKOhoa0gH%2BlFc8yAzgH%2Bhd3ibt3Ob8oB%2FJAeTkhlxQvJi0GXLCdKCYFPFaBNJNh9R0J8jAF9Snq8Rr6CvXOtl0riwOflpHrY%3D&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Date=20260225T025140Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAQ3PHCVTYVEQPGVU2%2F20260225%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Signature=fe5fa6327ebf0b93573399994165a3ebb6081ad3332946083b394f9ca9a2a481&hash=0155889ea60a3296d1aea237f39fd7d465d6b683cffb5964ce7c81803b5be66f&host=68042c943591013ac2b2430a89b270f6af2c76d8dfd086a07176afe7c76c2c61&pii=S2093791123000720&tid=spdf-546eb3ef-b579-44d5-b252-8ebe611d1eaf&sid=b585a8cb3005e34e31380931a4e7e9d5ebd2gxrqb&type=client&tsoh=d3d3LnNjaWVuY2VkaXJlY3QuY29t&rh=d3d3LnNjaWVuY2VkaXJlY3QuY29t&ua=0b015e065451045106&rr=9d33e6f7ea9be785&cc=id
Publisher
1National Institute for Occupational Health, A Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
2 School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
3 School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
4 School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
2 School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
3 School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
4 School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Date
26 October 2023
Contributor
FAJAR BAGUS W
Format
PDF
Language
ENGLISH
Type
TEXT
Files
Citation
Muzimkhulu Zungu 1,2,*, Annalee Yassi 3
, Jonathan Ramodike 1,2
, Kuku Voyi 2
,
Karen Lockhart 3
, David Jones 1
, Spo Kgalamono 1,4
, Nkululeko Thunzi 1
, Jerry Spiegel 3, “Systematizing Information Use to Address Determinants of Health
Worker Health in South Africa: A Cross-sectional Mixed Method Study,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 25, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/11598.
Worker Health in South Africa: A Cross-sectional Mixed Method Study,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 25, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/11598.