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Agriculture and musculoskeletal disorders in low- and middle-income countries

Kumaraveloo, K. Sakthiaseelan LU and Lunner Kolstrup, Christina (2018) In Journal of Agromedicine 23(3). p.227-248
Abstract

Objectives: To systematically explore and summarize the risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among the agricultural workers in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). In addition, to identify and analyze the methodological flaws in the reviewed studies. Methods: A comprehensive electronic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Medline, SCOPUS, CINAHL, Science Direct, Embase, Wiley Online Library, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases. Three-phased screening process was undertaken to eliminate irrelevant publications. Assessment of methodological quality was done using a standardized assessment tool. Results: Eighteen cross-sectional studies were included in the narrative synthesis. Based on the... (More)

Objectives: To systematically explore and summarize the risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among the agricultural workers in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). In addition, to identify and analyze the methodological flaws in the reviewed studies. Methods: A comprehensive electronic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Medline, SCOPUS, CINAHL, Science Direct, Embase, Wiley Online Library, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases. Three-phased screening process was undertaken to eliminate irrelevant publications. Assessment of methodological quality was done using a standardized assessment tool. Results: Eighteen cross-sectional studies were included in the narrative synthesis. Based on the median score of 38%, nine publications were classified as having higher methodological quality. Eight countries were represented in this review, mainly the South East Asia countries. Majority of the participants were rice farmers. Most common risk factors associated with WMSDs were physical factors (n = 10), followed by individual (n = 6) and psychosocial (n = 5) risk factors. A majority of the studies investigated the risk factors for spinal region. Several methodological weaknesses were noticed in the studies concerning outcome definition, assessment of potential confounders, generalizability, selection bias, information bias, and statistical analysis. Extensive heterogeneity across the studies prevented statistical pooling. Conclusions: The common anatomical region evaluated was the spine and the most reported risk factors were physical risk factors. Future researches in the LMIC should focus on conducting longitudinal studies that could infer temporality. Researchers should give more attention in defining the study population, evaluating the exposure and outcome in an unbiased way, and in executing reliable statistical analysis.

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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
agricultural risk factors, agricultural workers, Agricultural-related musculoskeletal disorders, low- and middle-income countries, work-related musculoskeletal disorders
in
Journal of Agromedicine
volume
23
issue
3
pages
22 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • pmid:30047854
  • scopus:85050800242
ISSN
1059-924X
DOI
10.1080/1059924X.2018.1458671
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
229116a7-c7cb-4199-b381-fcf488469d2b
date added to LUP
2018-09-03 15:23:34
date last changed
2024-03-18 13:36:43
@article{229116a7-c7cb-4199-b381-fcf488469d2b,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objectives: To systematically explore and summarize the risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among the agricultural workers in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). In addition, to identify and analyze the methodological flaws in the reviewed studies. Methods: A comprehensive electronic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Medline, SCOPUS, CINAHL, Science Direct, Embase, Wiley Online Library, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases. Three-phased screening process was undertaken to eliminate irrelevant publications. Assessment of methodological quality was done using a standardized assessment tool. Results: Eighteen cross-sectional studies were included in the narrative synthesis. Based on the median score of 38%, nine publications were classified as having higher methodological quality. Eight countries were represented in this review, mainly the South East Asia countries. Majority of the participants were rice farmers. Most common risk factors associated with WMSDs were physical factors (n = 10), followed by individual (n = 6) and psychosocial (n = 5) risk factors. A majority of the studies investigated the risk factors for spinal region. Several methodological weaknesses were noticed in the studies concerning outcome definition, assessment of potential confounders, generalizability, selection bias, information bias, and statistical analysis. Extensive heterogeneity across the studies prevented statistical pooling. Conclusions: The common anatomical region evaluated was the spine and the most reported risk factors were physical risk factors. Future researches in the LMIC should focus on conducting longitudinal studies that could infer temporality. Researchers should give more attention in defining the study population, evaluating the exposure and outcome in an unbiased way, and in executing reliable statistical analysis.</p>}},
  author       = {{Kumaraveloo, K. Sakthiaseelan and Lunner Kolstrup, Christina}},
  issn         = {{1059-924X}},
  keywords     = {{agricultural risk factors; agricultural workers; Agricultural-related musculoskeletal disorders; low- and middle-income countries; work-related musculoskeletal disorders}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{07}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{227--248}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Journal of Agromedicine}},
  title        = {{Agriculture and musculoskeletal disorders in low- and middle-income countries}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1059924X.2018.1458671}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/1059924X.2018.1458671}},
  volume       = {{23}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}