Management of Occupational Rehabilitation Services for Injured Workers in Federal Medical Centres in the North East

Occupational rehabilitation services facilitate the recovery and functional reintegration of injured workers, yet their organization and quality in Nigerian federal health facilities remain poorly evaluated. This study assessed the management of occupational rehabilitation services for injured workers at Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) in North East Nigeria, with fieldwork at FMCs in Yola, Nguru, and Gombe. A qualitative and quantitative mixed-methods evaluative design was employed, with 35 rehabilitation team members and 60 injured worker-patients providing data through structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Results showed that dedicated occupational rehabilitation units were absent in two of three assessed FMCs. Physiotherapy services constituted the primary rehabilitation offering in all facilities, while occupational therapy, vocational counseling, and psychology services were either absent or insufficiently staffed. Return-to-work planning was incorporated into rehabilitation in only 18.3 percent of case files reviewed. Average time from injury referral to rehabilitation initiation was 8.4 weeks, considered excessive given established clinical guidelines. Patient satisfaction with rehabilitation service coordination was low, with 71.7 percent rating inter-departmental communication as poor. The study recommends the creation of dedicated occupational rehabilitation departments within FMCs, interprofessional team structures including occupational therapists and vocational counselors, and development of a national rehabilitation care pathway for occupationally injured workers in Nigeria. Keywords: occupational rehabilitation, injured workers, Federal Medical Centre, return-to-work, North East Nigeria.