Factors correlated with risk levels of musculoskeletal disorders among rubber plantersThis cross-sectional analytic study aimed to investigate the factors associated with health risk levels of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in rubber planters. There wer

Abstract

This cross-sectional analytic study aimed to investigate the factors associated withhealth risk levels of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in rubber planters. There were 316 rubber planters from Ubon Ratchatani Province, Thailand participated in this study by multi-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected by the structure interviewed questionnaire, musculoskeletal discomfort questionnaire, rapid entire body assessment (REBA), and physical fitness test. The health risk assessment matrix was applied for MSDs risk levels assessment. The significant risk factors of MSDs risk levels were indicated by using multiple logistic regression to present adjusted Odds Ratio (OR_adj) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) at p-value <0.05. The results showed that ergonomics risk assessed by REBA was very high with implication needs among rubber tappers (87.66%) and all rubber sheet makers. The muscle strength was likely low for handgrip strength (56.01%) and leg strength (89.55%). The high health risk of MSDs was indicated in most rubber planters (62.65%), mainly area of the lower back (67.71%), followed by the knee (58.86%) and hands/wrists (56.96%). The significant factors correlated with the high risk of MSDs were including rubber transportation with a car (OR_adj. = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.06-2.87), resting ≤3 hours a day (OR_adj. = 3.38; 95% CI = 1.13-10.11), and had low handgrip strength (OR_adj. = 2.13; 95% CI = 1.29-3.27). The significant findings were high ergonomics risk among rubber tappers and rubber sheet makers and the correlated risk factors to MSDs risk level which were low muscle strength, not enough rest, and manual rubber transportation. Those suggestions are for the surveillance program to prevent MSDs by the community’s organization such as health promotion with muscle exercise and training program to educate planting farmers of rubber on work environmental ergonomics and to reduce the risk of MSDs.