Factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders in artisanal fishers from traditional community in Todos-os-Santos Bay, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction  Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are one of the leading causes of pain and disability at work, affecting various professional categories, including multipurpose/artisanal fishing workers .

Objective  To analyse the factors associated with the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, characterized according to occupation, and to draw up a profile of fishermen and shellfish gatherers.

Methods  Cross-sectional study with a probabilistic sample of artisanal fishing workers from the municipality of Cachoeira (BA). The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used, in addition to a structured questionnaire. Multiple correspondence analysis and Poisson regression were used.

Results  248 workers participated, n = 78 fishermen and n = 170 shellfish gatherers. The prevalence of MSD was 89.7% among fishermen and 95.3% among shellfish gatherers, with no differences between these groups (prevalence ratio = 1.06). Among the shellfish gatherers, were predominant women aged ≤ 37 years, with children under two years old, incomplete secondary education, who had another activity, with long hours in a squatting position, walking while handling loads and pushing fish. Among the fishermen, the profile was the opposite, they reported taking pain medication and long hours in a sitting position.

Conclusion  There was a high prevalence of generalized MSD among multipurpose/artisanal fishers, regardless of gender. This could be explained by the high exposure of both groups to adverse occupational factors and by the sociodemographic profile of the community studied.

Keywords
Musculoskeletal Diseases; Occupational Diseases; Artisanal Fishers; Occupational Health