Das Pronab, Das Seemanta, Mannan Muhammad Abdul, Chowdhury Sharmin
One Health Institute, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram 4225, Bangladesh.
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh.
Prev Med Rep. 2025 Aug 7;57:103196. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2025.103196. eCollection 2025 Sep.
Veterinarians are observed to be vulnerable to various occupational hazards due to the nature of their work. Veterinary students face an even greater risk, as their academic and professional training in animal handling is still incomplete. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with occupational hazard exposure among undergraduate veterinary students in Bangladesh.
A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 25, 2024 to September 10, 2024 among 330 veterinary students from two conveniently selected institutions in Bangladesh. Third- to fifth-year students were invited to participate through a self-administered questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed with the chi-square test and logistic regression to investigate the associated factors.
Overall, 62.4 % students reported exposure to occupational hazards. Physical hazards were the most frequently reported (44.2 %), followed by chemical (19.4 %), psychosocial (17.6 %), biological (13.6 %), and ergonomic hazards (9.1 %). Senior-level students reported a higher exposure to hazards than 3rd year students (4th year: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.45, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.04, 5.74; 5th year: AOR = 2.43, 95 % CI = 1.30, 4.55). Those who received formal training outside the curriculum were more likely to report exposure (AOR = 2.49, 95 % CI = 1.16, 5.36). Moreover, a higher knowledge level was a protective factor for occupational hazards (AOR = 0.56, 95 % CI = 0.31, 0.99).
Our findings emphasize the need for training programs both within and beyond the curriculum to improve students' practical skills, particularly among senior-level students involved in clinical duties.
由于工作性质，兽医被认为易受各种职业危害。兽医专业学生面临的风险更大，因为他们在动物处理方面的学术和专业培训仍不完整。因此，本研究旨在调查孟加拉国本科兽医专业学生职业危害暴露的患病率及相关因素。
2024年8月25日至9月10日，对孟加拉国两所便利选取的机构的330名兽医专业学生进行了横断面研究。通过自填问卷邀请三至五年级学生参与。采用卡方检验和逻辑回归进行统计分析，以调查相关因素。
总体而言，62.4%的学生报告有职业危害暴露。身体危害报告最为频繁（44.2%），其次是化学危害（19.4%）、社会心理危害（17.6%）、生物危害（13.6%）和工效学危害（9.1%）。高年级学生报告的危害暴露高于三年级学生（四年级：调整优势比[AOR]=2.45，95%置信区间[CI]=1.04，5.74；五年级：AOR=2.43，95%CI=1.30，4.55）。那些接受过课程外正规培训的学生更有可能报告有暴露（AOR=2.49，95%CI=1.16，5.36）。此外，较高的知识水平是职业危害的保护因素（AOR=0.56，95%CI=0.31，0.99）。
我们的研究结果强调，需要在课程内外开展培训项目，以提高学生的实践技能，特别是参与临床工作的高年级学生。
