PPrevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the lower limbs of artisanal fisherwomen / shellfish gatherers of Brazil

Abstract

Objective: to estimate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the lower limbs of artisanal fishermen/fisherwomen from Saubara, Bahia, Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study, using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), the Brazilian version of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and a questionnaire about physical demands, were used to collectinformation in a random sample of artisanal fishermen/shellfish gatherers, in 2013.  Results: The prevalence of MSDs in lower limbs in the sample was 65.5% (n=137). The prevalence of MSDs in the thigh/knee segment, leg and ankle/foot were 48.7% (n=92), 47.7% (n=95) and 38.1% (n=72), respectively. There was also a high frequency of obesity, poor education, low wages, early age at onset of labor, and excessive workload. Conclusion: The high prevalence of MSDs in lower limbs in female artisanal fishermen indicates the need to develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis and reporting of these diseases.