Effect of malaria on productivity in a workplace: the case of a banana plantation in Zimbabwe
Abstract Background Malaria is known to contribute to reduction in productivity through absenteeism as worker-hours are lost thus impacting company productivity and performance. This paper analysed the impact of malaria on productivity in a banana plantation through absenteeism. Methods This study w...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-12-01
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| Series: | Malaria Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-3021-6 |
| _version_ | 1818602436455038976 |
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| author | Akim Tafadzwa Lukwa Richard Mawoyo Karen Nelwin Zablon Aggrey Siya Olufunke Alaba |
| author_facet | Akim Tafadzwa Lukwa Richard Mawoyo Karen Nelwin Zablon Aggrey Siya Olufunke Alaba |
| author_sort | Akim Tafadzwa Lukwa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Malaria is known to contribute to reduction in productivity through absenteeism as worker-hours are lost thus impacting company productivity and performance. This paper analysed the impact of malaria on productivity in a banana plantation through absenteeism. Methods This study was carried out at Matanuska farm in Burma Valley, Zimbabwe. Raw data on absenteeism was obtained in retrospect from the Farm Manager. Malaria infection was detected using malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test. Measures of absence from work place were determined and included; incidence of absence (number of absentees divided by the total workforce), absence frequency (number of malaria spells), frequency rate (number of spells divided by the number of absentees), estimated duration of spells (number of days lost due to malaria), severity rate (number of days lost divided by number of spells), incapacity rate (number of days lost divided by the number of absentees), number of absent days (number of spells times the severity rate), number of scheduled working days (actual working days in 5 months multiplied by total number of employees), absenteeism rate. Results A total of 143 employees were followed up over a 5-month period. Malaria positivity was 21%, 31.5%, 44.8%, 35.7% and 12.6% for January 2014 to May 2014, respectively. One spell of absence [194 (86.6%)] was common followed by 2 spells of absence [30 (13.4%)] for all employees. Duration of spells of absence due to malaria ranged from 1.5 to 4.1 working-days, with general workers being the most affected. Incidence of absence was 143/155 (93.3%), with total of spells of absence of over a 5-month period totalling 224. The frequency rate of absenteeism was 1.6 with severity rate of absence being 2.4. and incapacity rate was 3.7. Conclusion Malaria contributes significantly to worker absenteeism. Employers, therefore, ought to put measures that protect workers from malaria infections. Protecting workers can be done through malaria educative campaigns, providing mosquito nets, providing insecticide-treated work suits, providing repellents and partnering with different ministries to ensure protection of workers from mosquito bites. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T13:07:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d6c09f6a01c94217873f0c2b0c56700a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-2875 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T13:07:15Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Malaria Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-d6c09f6a01c94217873f0c2b0c56700a2022-12-21T22:30:42ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752019-12-011811810.1186/s12936-019-3021-6Effect of malaria on productivity in a workplace: the case of a banana plantation in ZimbabweAkim Tafadzwa Lukwa0Richard Mawoyo1Karen Nelwin Zablon2Aggrey Siya3Olufunke Alaba4Health Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape TownMutare Provincial HospitalNational Institute for Medical ResearchCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere UniversityHealth Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape TownAbstract Background Malaria is known to contribute to reduction in productivity through absenteeism as worker-hours are lost thus impacting company productivity and performance. This paper analysed the impact of malaria on productivity in a banana plantation through absenteeism. Methods This study was carried out at Matanuska farm in Burma Valley, Zimbabwe. Raw data on absenteeism was obtained in retrospect from the Farm Manager. Malaria infection was detected using malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test. Measures of absence from work place were determined and included; incidence of absence (number of absentees divided by the total workforce), absence frequency (number of malaria spells), frequency rate (number of spells divided by the number of absentees), estimated duration of spells (number of days lost due to malaria), severity rate (number of days lost divided by number of spells), incapacity rate (number of days lost divided by the number of absentees), number of absent days (number of spells times the severity rate), number of scheduled working days (actual working days in 5 months multiplied by total number of employees), absenteeism rate. Results A total of 143 employees were followed up over a 5-month period. Malaria positivity was 21%, 31.5%, 44.8%, 35.7% and 12.6% for January 2014 to May 2014, respectively. One spell of absence [194 (86.6%)] was common followed by 2 spells of absence [30 (13.4%)] for all employees. Duration of spells of absence due to malaria ranged from 1.5 to 4.1 working-days, with general workers being the most affected. Incidence of absence was 143/155 (93.3%), with total of spells of absence of over a 5-month period totalling 224. The frequency rate of absenteeism was 1.6 with severity rate of absence being 2.4. and incapacity rate was 3.7. Conclusion Malaria contributes significantly to worker absenteeism. Employers, therefore, ought to put measures that protect workers from malaria infections. Protecting workers can be done through malaria educative campaigns, providing mosquito nets, providing insecticide-treated work suits, providing repellents and partnering with different ministries to ensure protection of workers from mosquito bites.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-3021-6MalariaAbsenteeismProductivityAgriculture |
| spellingShingle | Akim Tafadzwa Lukwa Richard Mawoyo Karen Nelwin Zablon Aggrey Siya Olufunke Alaba Effect of malaria on productivity in a workplace: the case of a banana plantation in Zimbabwe Malaria Journal Malaria Absenteeism Productivity Agriculture |
| title | Effect of malaria on productivity in a workplace: the case of a banana plantation in Zimbabwe |
| title_full | Effect of malaria on productivity in a workplace: the case of a banana plantation in Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | Effect of malaria on productivity in a workplace: the case of a banana plantation in Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of malaria on productivity in a workplace: the case of a banana plantation in Zimbabwe |
| title_short | Effect of malaria on productivity in a workplace: the case of a banana plantation in Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | effect of malaria on productivity in a workplace the case of a banana plantation in zimbabwe |
| topic | Malaria Absenteeism Productivity Agriculture |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-3021-6 |
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