Self-Reported Fatigue Among Construction Workers in Gaborone, Botswana

Although fatigue has been recognized as a workplace hazard contributing to reduced productivity and increased worker’s compensation costs in the construction industry, suboptimal epidemiological studies have been carried out among construction workers in developing countries. The job task of construction workers often involves heavy workloads, awkward working postures, and prolonged working hours, which place workers at increased risk of fatigue. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of fatigue among construction workers in Gaborone. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among ten construction companies in Gaborone. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was used to gather information on demographic characteristics of participants, work related factors associated with fatigue and individual’s perception on their company’s fatigue management strategies. Chi squared tests and logistic regression analysis were performed to analyse the data. The prevalence of self-reported fatigue was 66% (79). Of these, 62% of respondents reported high fatigue whereas 38% reported borderline fatigue. The strongest predictor of reporting fatigue was taking energy drinks or coffee to stay awake at work (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR: 2.833, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.290 – 6.219). Social stress and working for more than 8 hours a day were also significantly associated with fatigue. Having been trained on fatigue management was associated with decreased odds of reporting fatigue (AOR: 0.372, 95% CI: 0.157 – 0.883). This study suggests that fatigue is common among construction workers in Gaborone and multifactorial in nature. Therefore, to help reduce the prevalence, progression and burden of fatigue among construction workers in Gaborone, companies must implement and train workers on fatigue management systems.