Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Sugarcane Farmers in North-Eastern Thailand

Abstract

This cross-sectional analytical study aimed to identify prevalence and factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among sugarcane farmers. Cluster random sampling was used to select 540 sugarcane farmers from 3 provinces in North-Eastern Thailand. Three related questionnaires, plus assessments by 2 expert physiotherapists, were used to check for factors associated with WMSDs and prevalence of WMSDs. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regressions. The results indicated the prevalence of WMSDs among sugarcane farmers in the 7 days before the interview and looking back over the previous 12 months were 82.96% and 88.70%, respectively. Factors significantly associated with reporting WMSDs (P value < .05) during past 12 months were (a) repetitive motions (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.90; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05-3.43), (b) working in awkward postures (adjusted OR = 1.95; 95% CI = 1.01-3.77), (c) forceful exertions (adjusted OR = 2.78; 95% CI = 1.54-5.02), and (d) stress about future income (adjusted OR = 1.80; 95% CI = 1.02-3.16). Recommendations are made for risk prevention strategies.

Keywords

musculoskeletal disorders working postures repetitive work forceful exertions financial stress sugarcane farmers Thailand

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

National Statistical Office. Basic stat time series employee demographic unemployed cause death. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system. http://service.nso.go.th/nso/nsopublish/BaseStat/basestat.html. Accessed May 12, 2012.

Janwattanakul

Pensri

Jiamjarasrangsri

. Screening Test and Health Promotion Program for Treatment of Musculoskeletal Symptoms in the Neck and Low Back in Office Workers. Bangkok, Thailand: Thai Health Promotion Foundation; 2010.

Adams

. Biomechanics of back pain. Acupunct Med. 2004;22:178-188.

McGorry

Webster

Sanook

Hsiang

. The relation between pain intensity, disability, and the episodic nature of chronic and recurrent low back pain. Spine. 2000;25:834-841.

Ceran

Ozcan

. The relationship of the function rating index with disability, pain, and quality of life in patients with low back pain. Med Sci Monit. 2006;12:435-439.

Department of Agriculture. Sugarcane. http://it.doa.go.th/vichakan/news.php?newsid=13. Published December 28, 2008. Accessed October 9, 2012.

Nilvarangkul

Adler Collins

Thawenonngiew

Clangglang

. Community Participation in Health Service System for Informal Sector Workers in Primary Care Units: A Case Study of Sugarcane Farmers. Bangkok, Thailand: Thai Health Promotion Foundation; 2009.

Teeratananon

Supapong

Hiransuthikul

. Prevalence rate and related factors of musculoskeletal disorders in sugarcane workers. J Health Syst Res. 2010;4:504-509.

Hsieh

Bloch

Larsen

. A simple method of sample size calculation for linear and logistic regression. Stat Med. 1998;17:1623-1634.

10.

Kuorinka

Jonsson

Kilbom

. Standardized Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Appl Ergon. 1987;18:233-237.

11.

Dawson

Street

Hodges

Stewart

. Development and test retest reliability of an extended version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ-E): a screening instrument for musculoskeletal pain. J Pain. 2009;10:517-526.

12.

Sungkhabut

Chaiklieng

. Musculoskeletal disorders among informal sector workers. Srinagarind Med J. 2011;26:225-232.

13.

Henry

Esfehani

Ramli

Ishak

Justine

Mohan

. Patterns of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among workers in palm plantation occupation [published online February 14, 2013]. Asia Pac J Public Health. doi:10.1177/1010539513475657.

14.

Osborne

Blake

McNamara

Meredith

Phelan

Cunningham

. Musculoskeletal disorders among Irish farmers. Occup Med (Lond). 2010;60:598-603.

15.

Martha

Sanders

. Ergonomics and the Management of Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2nd ed. Saint Louis, MO: Butterworth-Heinemann. https://www-sciencedirect-com.web.bisu.edu.cn/science/article/pii/B9780750674096500014. Accessed October, 2013.

16.

Melchior

Roquelaure

Evanoff

. Why are manual workers at high risk of upper limb disorders? The role of physical work factors in a random sample of workers in France (the Pays de la Loire study). Occup Environ Med. 2006;63:754-761.

17.

Kroemer

. Cumulative trauma disorders: their recognition and ergonomics measures to avoid them. Appl Ergon. 1989;20:274-280.

18.

Shan

Bin Adon

Rahman

Hassan

Ismail

. Prevalence of neck pain and associated factors with personal characteristics, physical workloads and psychosocial among male rubber workers in FELDA settlement Malaysia. Glob J Heal Sci. 2011;4:94-104.

19.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Simple solutions: ergonomics for farm workers (Report No. 2001-111). http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2001-111/pdfs/2001-111.pdf. Accessed March 5, 2014.

20.

Hoogendoorn

Bongers

de Vet

. Flexion and rotation of the trunk and lifting at work are risk factors for low back pain. Spine. 2000;25:3087-3092.

21.

Rosecrance

Rodgers

Merlino

. Low back pain and musculoskeletal symptoms among Kansas farmers. Am J Ind Med. 2006;49:547-556.

22.

Bongers

Kremer

Laakter

. Are psychosocial factors, risk factors for symptoms and signs of the shoulder, elbow, or hand/wrist? A review of the epidemiological literature. Am J Ind Med. 2002;41:315-342.

23.

Raine

. Causes and effects of stress on farmers: a qualitative study. Health Educ J. 1999;58:259-270.