Citation

Kang MY, Lee MJ, Chung H, Shin DH, Youn KW, Im SH. J. Agromed. 2016; 21(4): 353-363.

Affiliation

Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Green Hospital , Seoul , South Korea.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/1059924X.2016.1178612

PMID

27119374

Abstract

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 to 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 = 0.0002; lower extremities, <0.001; back, <0.001). Agriculture type, years of farming, and ergonomic factors increased the risk of MSDs among Korean farmers.

Language: en