Abstract
Background
Workplace health promotion is defined as a human resource investment to improve employee health and wellbeing. However, its success is dependent on the employee’s level of participation which is undermined by many factors. There is a paucity of literature that examines the factors that facilitate workplace health promotion success by assessing the employees’ knowledge, attitudes and perception.
Objectives
This study evaluates the employees’ knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding workplace health promotion and wellbeing among Ethekwini Municipality employees.
Methods
A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted. Using simple random sampling, a sample of 300 employees completed a self-administered questionnaire. Data management and analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences 26 (SPSS) and EPINFO version 7.2.4 software. For each of the objectives, logistic regression analysis was conducted and results were reported as odds ratios (OR) and the corresponding confidence intervals (CI).
Results
Participants were significantly more likely to experience difficulty in describing all the different activities in the workplace health program, in the adjusted analysis (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.08, 95% CI (1.08-4.02). Participants were significantly more likely to disagree that it was important to attend the workplace health program (OR), 1.74 95% CI (1.03-2.93). Participants were significantly more likely to disagree that management was supportive of the workplace health program (OR) 2.93, 95% CI (1.58-5.43). Participants were significantly less likely to have considered healthier choices to support positive health changes (OR), 0.20 95% CI (0.05-0.84). Participants perceived the program to be of poor quality and did not perceive a positive impact on their health/wellbeing, work performance and productivity.
Conclusions
The study concludes that the majority of employees have poor knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards workplace health promotion which accounts for the lack of employee participation and program success.
Keywords: workplace health, health programs, attitude, knowledge, perception and health.