Occupational Health Challenges and Intervention Gaps in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review of Evidence and Practice

Objectives: There is a growing body of literature on occupational health of Saudi Arabia, but there is a lack of evidence regarding the interventions either implemented/proposed and the outcomes effectiveness. Methods: We performed a systematic search within PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar (2018-2023) according to PRISMA guidelines. We included studies that examined occupational health problems and the related interventions/effectiveness that were implemented or suggested within the context of Saudi Arabia. Results: Following removal of duplicates and screening for resulting data extraction, 15 studies met inclusion criteria. Most studies evaluated cross-sectional data (≈80%) with a high predominance of the healthcare sector. Common challenges included musculoskeletal disorders, psychological stresses and occupational infections. Intervention effectiveness was measured in a few studies, but ergonomic and disease-prevention strategies were the most frequently described. Strategies. Conclusion: There is considerable disparity between occupational health challenges identified and rigorously evaluated interventions in Saudi Arabia, particularly in high-risk sectors such as construction and manufacturing. Longitudinal and experimental designs should be valuable in future research.