Musculoskeletal Disorders and Agricultural Risk Factors Among Korean Farmers.
Farming is a strenuous occupation with various health risks, with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) being some of the most common. The risk factors for MSDs among Korean farmers are not well understood. Data were obtained from the Korean Farmers' Occupational Disease and Injury Survey (2012), which interviewed 16,113 participants regarding their demographic profiles, self-reported MSDs, and agricultural characteristics. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for MSDs. Subjects reported MSDs in the neck or upper extremities (5.89%), lower extremities (19.62%), and back (26.9%). Working in animal husbandry significantly increased the risk of MSDs in the neck/upper extremities, compared with irrigation farming (odds ratio: 1.837, 95% confidence interval: 1.130-2.987). The risk of MSDs increased significantly with number of years of farming, after adjusting for age and sex (neck/upper extremities, P for trend = .0002; lower extremities, <.001; back, <.001). Agriculture type, years of farming, and ergonomic factors increased the risk of MSDs among Korean farmers.
a Department of Preventive Medicine , College of Medicine, Seoul National University , Seoul , South Korea.
Mo-Yeol
MY
Kang
b Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Green Hospital , Seoul , South Korea.
Myeong-Jun
MJ
Lee
b Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Green Hospital , Seoul , South Korea.
HweeMin
H
Chung
b Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Green Hospital , Seoul , South Korea.
Dong-Hee
DH
Shin
b Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Green Hospital , Seoul , South Korea.
Kan-Woo
KW
Youn
b Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Green Hospital , Seoul , South Korea.
Sang-Hyuk
SH
Im
c Rural Development Administration, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences , Jeonju-city , Korea.
Hye Seon
HS
Chae
c Rural Development Administration, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences , Jeonju-city , Korea.
Kyung Suk
KS
Lee
D000368:Aged; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D000067565:Farmers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Agriculture; ergonomic; farmers; musculoskeletal disorders; risk factors