Protecting the protectors: Occupational burden and management of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Cameroonian healthcare professionals and the Sustainable Development Goals

The study examined work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) among healthcare professionals in five hospitals in Douala, Cameroon, during 2019-2022. A total of 561 healthcare professionals were enrolled in the research. The 12-month prevalence of WMSD was 83.4 percent (468 out of 561 workers). These disorders caused work absenteeism in 83.4 percent of affected professionals, reduced daily activity capacity in 55.6 percent, and job dissatisfaction in 60.4 percent; 38.9 percent of workers considered a career change. Treatment was predominantly reactive, consisting of fitness training (76.3 percent), rest (41.4 percent), and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (37.3 percent). Only 15 percent of professionals were referred to physiotherapy, and no hospital had a formal WMSD protocol. The study concluded that preventive programs, physiotherapy integration, and a national occupational health policy are urgently needed.