title: Assessment of ergonomic and occupational health-related problems among female prawn seed collectors of Sunderbans, West Bengal, India.
abstract: Sixty female prawn seed collectors and 60 female control subjects from Sajenakhali and Sandeshkhali blocks of Sunderbans, West Bengal, India, were randomly selected to evaluate and compare musculoskeletal disorders and physiological stress. The control group was engaged in domestic work involving minimum hand intensive activities. The modified Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire and rapid entire body assessment were used. Most subjects suffered from discomfort in different body parts, especially in the lower back (98%), knees (88%), shoulders (75%), ankles (70%) and feet (67%). This study reveals that female prawn seed collectors suffer from significant physiological load and extreme physiological stress due to prolonged working hours in a standing posture and excessive work pressure. Consequently, all these factors affect female prawn seed collectors' health and work performance.
authors.affiliation: University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India. dr.banibrata@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Banibrata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Tirthankar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Somnath
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gangopadhyay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017756:Aquaculture; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016272:Occupational Health; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires