Prevalence and Associated Factors of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) among Greenhouse Workers

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are among the most common occupational health issues in agricultural work. Therefore, it is essential to assess the severity of these disorders among greenhouse workers to evaluate their health status and identify factors associated with these conditions.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of MSDs and identify associated risk factors among greenhouse workers.

This cross-sectional study examined 293 greenhouse workers in Jiroft City in 2023 through cluster sampling. Data were collected using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and analyzed in SPSS-24 employing independent t-tests, Pearson correlation, and ANOVA.

This study included 293 greenhouse workers, with 261 (89.1%) being male and 32 (10.9%) female. The prevalence of MSDs was 89.3% among men and 10.7% among women. Over half of the participants were aged between 20 and 40 years. A total of 149 workers (50.9%) reported having MSDs, with 76 (25.9%) affected in one body area, 40 (13.7%) in two or three areas simultaneously, and 22 (7.5%) in all examined areas. The most common MSDs were back problems (36.2%, 106 cases), followed by shoulder pain (19.5%, 57 cases) and knee pain (17%, 50 cases). Ankle issues were the least frequent (7.5%, 22 cases). A significant correlation was found between physical activity and MSD prevalence (p≤0.05).

The high prevalence of MSDs underscores the urgent need for ergonomic interventions and workplace exercise programs. Promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyle practices among greenhouse workers is also essential to mitigate these occupational health risks.