Protocol for Evaluating the Impact of Capacity Building on Seafarers’ Occupational Health and Safety in Three Gulf of Guinea Seaports Using a COM-B Framework Approach

Background: Occupational risks remain prevalent among seafarers along the Gulf of Guinea. However, structured evaluations of safety education and capacity-building initiatives targeting these risks remain scarce.
Objective: This protocol outlines a mixed-methods study to assess the impact of a tailored occupational health and safety (OHS) training program on the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of West -African seafarers using the COM-B behavioral model.
Methods: A quasi-experimental design will be used to conduct the study in the ports of Douala (Cameroon), Warri (Nigeria), and Tema (Ghana). Following recruitment, participants will be randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. A pre-assessment will be conducted with both intervention and control groups to establish baseline information. A six-module OHS training will focus on safety practices, hazard identification, and behavioral reinforcement. Data will be collected through surveys, focus group discussions (FGDs), in-depth interview (IDIs), and structured observation at both pre- and post‑intervention stages. Quantitative data will be analyzed using SPSS, while qualitative data will be coded and analyzed using ATLAS.ti.. The COM-B framework will guide the intervention logic and inform outcome assessment.
Expected Outcomes: This protocol is designed to generate replicable, policy-relevant evidence on improving seafarers’ safety behavior through contextualized health education and capacity building intervention.

Seafarers, COM-B, Occupational Health

1. Roberts SE, Jaremin B, Lloyd K. Fatal accident rates among UK merchant seafarers compared with other workers. Occup Med (Lond). 2014;64(4):259–65. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Lefkowitz RY. Fatalities among Danish seafarers: A population-based study. Occup Med (Lond). 2013;63(3):193–7. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Bhattacharya S. The impact of the ISM Code on the management of occupational health and safety in the maritime industry. Health Policy Plan. 2009;24(3):221–8. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Iversen RTB. The mental health of seafarers. Int Marit Health. 2012;63(2):78–89. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Lefkowitz RY, Slade MD. Seafarer mental health: A review of recent literature. J Occup Health Psychol. 2019;24(3):282–93. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Boschetto P, et al. Occupational exposure to benzene and risk of hematologic malignancies. Am J Ind Med. 2006;49(9):709–17. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Drylli E, et al. Health risks and safety challenges among seafarers: A review of occupational exposures. Int Marit Health. 2020;71(2):123–30. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. International Maritime Organization (IMO). Maritime Labour Convention and STCW enforcement. IMO Report. 2019. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Runyan CW, et al. International perspectives on seafarer safety: Challenges and solutions. Safety Sci. 2008;46(6):933–8. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Sagaro GG, et al. Access to medical care among seafarers: A global review. Glob Health Action. 2021;14(1):1927321. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Campbell SJ, Osei-Atweneboana MY, Stothard R, et al. The COUNTDOWN study protocol for expansion of mass drug administration strategies against schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Ghana. Trop Med Infect Dis. 2018;3(1):10. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. World Health Organization. Helminth control in school-age children: A guide for managers of control programs. 2nd ed. Geneva: WHO Press; 2011. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. World Health Organization. Preventive chemotherapy to control soil-transmitted helminth infections in at-risk population groups. Geneva: WHO Press; 2019. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. MacPherson E, Theobald S, Gyapong M, et al. COUNTDOWN: Building evidence for equitable access to neglected tropical disease interventions. Int Health. 2018;10(5):317–24. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Tribal Child Nutrition and Health in District of Sundargarh: A Public Health Review of ICDS Intervention
• Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Prostate Cancer Screening Amongst Men Aged 40-60 Years in The Buea Health District: A Cross-Sectional Study
• Compliance with JCI Protocols: A Focus on Employee Safety
• Influence and Involvement of Teachers in Menstrual Hygiene Management of Female Secondary School Students in Kogi State, Nigeria
• A Critical Evaluation of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in Bihar