Work-related stress and associated factors among employees of Hawassa industrial park, southern Ethiopia: an institutional based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Work-related stress (WRS) is becoming an alarmingly growing public health concern worldwide. Due to globalization and changes in working conditions, people in low-income countries face growing work-relates stress. However, despite high prevalence globally, work-related stress among industrial park workers is not well studied in Ethiopia.Thus; the aim of this study was to assess work-related stress and associated factors among employees of Hawassa industrial park, southern Ethiopia. METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was employed among 419 employees of Hawassa industrial park using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Study participants were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data was collected by face-to-face interview. A workplace stress scale (WPSS) was used to assess work-related stress. The collected data were coded and entered into EPI data 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify associated factors. The statistical significance was considered at P-value < 0.05. RESULT: The Overall prevalence of work-related stress was 47.5, 95% CI (43.2, 52.1). Variables such as temporary employment [AOR = 0.41, 95% CI (0.26–0.64)], poor working condition [AOR = 2.12, 95% CI (1.32–3.43)], work experience less than two and half years [AOR = 3.11, 95% CI (1.95–4.96)], poor learning opportunity [AOR = 1.82, 95% CI (1.10–2.30)], poor organizational support [AOR = 1.70, 95% CI (1.10–2.62)], current use of khat [AOR = 2.52, 95% CI (1.28–4.99)] and current use of alcohol [AOR = 2.27, 95% CI (1.44–3.58)] were significantly associated with work-related stress. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: The study found high prevalence of work-related stress among employees of Hawassa industrial park. Temporary employment, poor working conditions, work experience < 2(1)/(2) years, poor learning opportunities, poor organizational support, current khat use, and current use of alcohol were significantly associated with work-related stress. Our study finding is recommending enhancing stress management skills and primary prevention on identified risk factors to industry employees.