KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF SMALL SCALE ENTREPRENEURS IN OSOGBO, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA TOWARDS GROUP OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES
*1Adebimpe, Wasiu Olalekan, 2Bamidele, James Olusegun, 3Asekun-Olarinmoye Esther, 4Abodunrin Olugbenga, 5Adegoke Korede
1Department of Community Medicine, Osun State University, Osogbo. Nigeria
2 Department of Community Medicine, Osogbo, Osun State. Nigeria.
E mail: lekanadebimpe@yahoo.com, lekanadebimpe@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The health status of the workforce of an industry or enterprise is an important determinant of their productivity towards achievement of organizational goals. The weak financial base of most small scale industries in Nigeria has prevented provision of quality occupational health services to many workers. Merger of resources by industries to form a formidable group occupational health services could enable workers to access better health care .The objective of this study is to assess knowledge and attitude of small scale entrepreneurs towards establishment of group occupational health service. Descriptive cross sectional study carried out among 72 small scale entrepreneurs in Osogbo in Southwestern Nigeria, using multistage sampling method. Rresearch instruments consist of pre-coded semi structured interviewer administered questionnaires. Data was analyzed using the SPSS software and association between categorical variable done using chi-square test at a level of significance of P<0.05. The average number of workers is 10.6 (+9.0) employee per industry. Twenty four (33.3%) of small scale entrepreneurs provide health care services for their workers, with reimbursement of workers being the method of sponsoring health care in 6(54.2%) of them. Only 4(5.6%) of all industries studied had their own company owned health facility or clinic. These four were aware of possible mergers of company clinics, and were also willing to join merger arrangements to form group occupational health service. Among entrepreneurs without their own clinic, 24(35.3%) were willing to establish staff clinics, nine (13.2%) of these were aware of possible mergers of company clinics to form a group practice, and 28(41.1%) of them are willing to join such mergers to form a group occupational health service. Majority of small scale industries studied had no company clinic, siting poor financial base and ignorance as reasons. Entrepreneurs also had poor knowledge of group occupational health services, but a fairly better attitude towards joining such mergers thus