Prevalence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Pain among Timber Workers in Enugu Metropolis; Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Objective: Work related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) is an occupational problem which timber workers are prone to because of the nature of their job. This study sought to determine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal pain (WRMS pain) among timber workers in Enugu metropolis; Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional survey design was used. A self-administered questionnaire was used as the survey instrument. Four hundred and sixteen questionnaires were duly completed and all the respondents were males. Descriptive statistics of frequency and percentages and inferential statistics of chi-square were used as appropriate for data analysis. Results: The results showed that 90.8of the timber workers have had WRMS pain once or more in their occupational lives. The twelve-month prevalence of WRMS pain was 90.1. The low back was the commonly affected body area reported by timber workers for complaints in the last twelve months. Performing the same tasks over and over (73.8); continuing to work while injured or hurt (37.8) and lifting and transferring heavy objects (31.2) were the job factors most problematic to the timber workers. Conclusion: There is an increased prevalence of WRMS pain among timber workers in Enugu metropolis with the low back being the commonly affected body area. It is therefore recommended that the conditions of working should be improved by the organization of seminars; education programmes and ergonomic intervention so as to ensure that the timber workers remain healthy and to reduce the occurrence of WRMS pain