Medical leave and quality of life at work: a survey of workers at the University Hospital of Libreville, Gabon

Purpose of the study. To determine the prevalence of sick leave, identify the factors associated with it and analyse their relationship with quality of life at work in a sample of workers at the University Hospital of Libreville (CHUL). This is a descriptive and analytical study using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire proposed by the Occupational Health and Safety Department to the staff of all departments of CHUL, from 01 January to 31 March 2020. Factors associated with sick leave were determined using a Poisson regression model at a 5% significance level. Two hundred fifty-four questionnaires were collected, representing 18.65% of the total CHUL workforce. Most respondents were female (66.9%), with an average age of 36 (ranging from 20 to 58). Thirty-three per cent of the 254 respondents reported at least one sickness absence in the previous 12 months. Sick leave in the occupational category was highest among nurses (32.84%). Common illness (22.44%) was the most common medical cause of sick leave in the last 12 months. The average duration of sick leave per employee in the last 12 months was 3.02 days. Sick leave was significantly associated with occupation (nurse, p=0.04844 and trainee, p=0.00128), gender (male, p=0.05), marital status (married, p=0.043), presence of aggression at work (p=0.000223), a poor working environment (p=0.00139), presence of appreciation at work (p=0.031266). The study identifies factors underlying sickness absence at CHUL, including quality of working life. Improving the quality of working life for staff will help to reduce sickness absence at CHUL.