title: Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among immigrant Latino farmworkers and non-farmworkers in North Carolina.
abstract: This paper evaluates the variability in the prevalence of epicondylitis, rotator cuff syndrome, low back pain, and lower extremity pathology among immigrant Latino farmworkers and non-farmworkers. Data were collected from a study among 272 farmworkers and non-farmworkers. Participants were recruited in eastern and central North Carolina. A physical examination was conducted by trained physicians. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among Latino manual workers is high compared with other workers in similar occupations. Non-farmworkers (49%) had a higher prevalence of MSDs than farmworkers (35%). Epicondylitis (20.2%) and rotator cuff syndrome (19.1%) were most prevalent. Age was found to be significant among those who had epicondylitis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.04) and lower extremity pathology (AOR = 1.07). Latino immigrant manual workers have high prevalence of MSDs. Further studies are needed to identify possible factors that make these populations more vulnerable to MSDs.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Epidemiology and Prevention , Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Dana C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.affiliation: b Department of Family and Community Medicine , Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.affiliation: c Department of Biostatistical Sciences , Division of Public Health Sciences, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: d Department of Epidemiology and Prevention , Division of Public Health Sciences, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Quandt
authors.affiliation: b Department of Family and Community Medicine , Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.affiliation: e Department of Family and Community Medicine , Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Arcury
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Farmworkers; Latino; immigrant; manual workers; musculoskeletal disorders