PREVALENCE AND WORK POSTURE FACTORS IN RELATION TO MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS AMONG SEWING FARMERS

Abstract

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) increase a worker’s risk of injury including the incidence of illness, which impacts on occupational health, ability to work and economic. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence and working posture in relation to MSDs among sewing farmers in Kalasin Province, Thailand. Total of 292 sewing farmers were employed as the participants using the questionnaire which was modified from the Standardized Nordic and the musculoskeletal disorders questionnaire of the Department of Disease Control. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple binary logistic regression.

The results revealed that the prevalence of MSDs during the past 7 days were 87.30 percent and most frequently showed on leg, knee, lower back, and shoulder were 55.50, 53.10, 52.00 and 51.00 percent respectively. The past 12 months were 94.20 percent and most frequently showed on leg, knee, lower back, and shoulder were 57.50, 54.50, 53.80 and 52.40 percent respectively. Working postures significantly affected to MSDs were the work that must be focused and take more attention 3-5 minutes, sitting at work for more than half of the working time without changing the position and the work that needs constantly bent while working all the time. (p-value < 0.05) Therefore, the authorities in the community should be setting up an effective guideline for prevention, including the training program to enhance of reducing the risk of MSDs as well as supporting the quality of life for the workers.