The Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Symptoms and the Ergonomic Risk Factors among Oriental Melon-growing Farmers.
- Author:
Kyu Jung BAE
1
;
Kyoung Sook LEE
;
Yong Ku KONG
;
Gyung Jae OH
;
Soo Jin LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Korea. sjlee@hanyang.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders;
Ergonomic risk factors;
Oriental melons;
Farmers
- MeSH:
Cucurbitaceae;
Data Collection;
Female;
Humans;
Knee;
Logistic Models;
Male;
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.);
Nurseries;
Plants;
Prevalence;
Questionnaires;
Risk Factors;
Shoulder;
Transplants
- From:Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
2011;23(1):1-8
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in oriental melon-growing farmers and to evaluate the ergonomic risk factors of melon cultivation. METHODS: The study included 217 subjects growing oriental melons mainly in 3 villages. Subjects were interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire. Instruments used the general features and symptom table of NIOSH to evaluate tasks using ergonomic tools (REBA, OWAS). RESULTS: A total of 202 final respondents answered. The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms based on the NIOSH standard criteria was 162 (75.2%). The prevalence per body part for lower back, knee and shoulder were 102 (50.5%), 86 (42.6%) and 71 (35.1%), respectively. The prevalence of pain complaints of the musculoskeletal symptom was 91 (45.0%). The prevalence of complaints per body part of lower back, knee and shoulder were 54 (26.7%), 41 (20.3%) and 37 (18.3%), respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed men were at higher risk compared to women (OR=2.409, 95% CI=1.071~5.389), and ore than 30 years of work having a higher risk compared to less than 30 years of work (OR=2.445, 95% CI=1.150~5.197). High risk tasks were moving around boxes and nursery plants for planting, transplanting nursery plants, and picking melons. CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal symptoms were very highly prevalent in oriental melon-growing farmers, showing up in 75.2% of cases. They were exposed to ergonomic high risk factors such as squatting. These risk factors must be improved in some way.
