title: Ergonomics evaluation of school bags in Tehran female primary school children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  More than 90% of the elementary school students in the world and most of the Iranian students use backpacks. Heavy school bags, failure to apply ergonomics standards in student's backpacks, and also mismatch between anthropometrics dimensions and schoolbag size are important issues for children's health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to gather baseline information on the average weight carried by female primary students. It also aimed to evaluate ergonomics standards for student backpacks.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted on 212 Iranian girl students aged 6- 11 years. Body weight and bag weight were measured with electronic scales and body mass index calculated with WHO software 2007. A questionnaire was constructed to gather information about the backpacks. Body dimensions were measured with VICON motion Analyze system (460). Ergonomics factors were recorded using a checklist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  80.8% of the students used a backpack at a higher weight than recommended by the standards of 10% of body weight. The most common type of schoolbag used was double strap packs (92.5%). The majority of the students carried packs on their backs; however, most of them did not make any adjustments (79.8%). The results have shown a mismatch between the anthropometric measures and the student's backpack dimensions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parents, students and school staff should be informed about these critical issues as well as suitable controls should be implemented in buying and using the bags.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ergonomics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (USWR), Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Somayeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ergonomics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (USWR), Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamidreza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mokhtarinia
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical sciences, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nejatbakhsh
authors.affiliation: Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scuffham
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000592:standards*; D006804:Ergonomics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D017770:Lifting / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016474:Weight-Bearing
keywords: Anthropometry; backpack; student; weight