Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and its associated factors among traditional cloth weavers in Chencha district, Gamo zone, Ethiopia, an ergonomic study

Abstract

Musculoskeletal disorders at work are common in the majority of African countries. Weaving is very important in Ethiopia for the national economy and for enhancing the country’s cultural values. However, the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in developing countries is significantly higher in common informal or small-scale enterprises such as weaving. Moreover, little is known about the prevalence and risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders in the weaving industry in Ethiopia. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and associated factors among traditional cloth weavers in Chencha district, Gamo zone, Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Chencha district from November 1 to December 30, 2021, using a simple random sampling technique. A total of 420 traditional cloth weavers working in individual households were interviewed. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed on variables with p-values less than 0.025 in the bivariate analysis. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders had been reported in the previous 12 months by approximately 97 (46.9%) of respondents. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders were reported by 76.1% of weavers in the shoulder region, 64.2% in the low back, 56.3% in the neck, and 0.2% in the upper back. Working for more than 10 years (AOR = 5.05, 95%CI: 1.23, 20.77), working with prolonged sitting (AOR = 4.77, 95%CI: 1.37, 16.62), and job dissatisfaction (AOR = 2.41, 95%CI: 1.04, 5.55) were among the determinants of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. As a result, ergonomically oriented weaving workstations are required because the majority of musculoskeletal disorders are caused by poorly designed workstations.

Lower back pain and associated factors among weavers working in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

“…In addition, the results of the present study agree with the studies conducted in West Bengal, India (68%); Uttarakhand, India (67.19%); and the Gamo zone of Ethiopia (64.2%) ( 23 , 52 , 53 ). This similarity can be attributed to the comparable participant characteristics of the studies, such as age, sex, sample size, BMI, number of working hours per day, and assessment tools used.…”

“…Prolonged periods of sitting without any change in posture can weaken abdominal muscles, causing spine curvature and respiratory and digestive disorders ( 18 ). Moreover, age, long hours of work (more than 8 h per day), frequent bending, years of work experience, awkward postures, repetitive movements, lack of back support, 7-day work weeks, job stress, and lack of job satisfaction are all factors associated with LBP ( 19 – 23 ). Efforts at workplaces to prevent LBP have gained increasing attention over the past years ( 24 ).…”