Prevalence Of Musculoskeletal Disorders (Msds) Among Farmers Of District Vehari, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Farming is widely considered a physically arduous profession that places farmers at the potential risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and/or work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs.Objective: The present study was aimed to determine the prevalent frequency of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and/or work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among the agricultural workers of district Vehari, Punjab, Pakistan.Methods: The study was a cross-sectional analytical interview-based study conducted on 376 farmers of district Vehari, Pakistan. A questionnaire-based interview was  conducted on male farmworkers, aged between18 to 63 and having a minimum of one-year working duration in the fields. The prevalent frequency distribution and percentages of the acquired data were calculted. The crosstab were formed to calculate the statistical results.Results: The response rate of the current study was cent percent. All the frmers, included in the study, reported for the MSDs and/or WMSDs in at least anyone of the body parts. Maximum prevalent frequency of MSDs was reported for the shoulders (61.4%). The least cases of MSDs and/or WMSDs were, however, reported for the wrist joints (2.1%).   It was also found that  highest prevalence of MSDs and/or WMSDs was found in the farmers who work  for eight hours 214 (56.9%) followed by six hours 135(35.9%) and four hours 27 (7.2%) in the field. The highest frequency of MSDs and/or WMSDs, however, was reported in the farmers upto the age of thirty five, fifty, and sixty three as 158 (42%), 134(35.6%), and 84 (22.3%), respectively. Conclusions: The study concluded that the most prevalent frequency of MSDs and WMSDs was reported for the farmers who work for eight hours in the fields.  High frequency of MSDs was reported for the shoulders (61.4%).