Abstract
Rubber tapping processes posed potential risk of various health problems among rubber workers. It ranges from simple musculoskeletal aches to more serious and complicated structural damage to bone, muscles, tendons and nerves of musculoskeletal system. These health problems might be linked directly to the arduous demands of farm labor.Objectives:A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of neck pain (NP) and musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) and its association with personal characteristics, physical workloads and psychosocial factors among rubber workers.Methods:Stratified random sampling method was adopted and a total of 419 rubber workers in FELDA’s scheme Malaysia participated in this study. Data was collected through face to face interview using modified Standardized Nordic Questionnaire (SNQ) and Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ).Results:The results revealed the prevalence of NP was 59.9% and weak correlation with age (ρ= -0.184, p= 0.001) and a positive weak correlation with working hours per day (ρ= 0.099, p= 0.043) significantly. All physical workloads (neck flexion or rotation, awkward postures, repetitive motion and static postures) had significant weak to moderate positive correlation with NP (p<0.05). Job insecurity was found to have weak and positive correlation with NP (p<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed risk factors for NP were decreased with age (OR= 3.92, 95% CI 1.61 – 9.58, p=0.003), increase in neck flexion or rotation (OR= 9.52, 95% CI 5.55 – 16.32, p= 0.001), awkward postures (OR=2.23, 95% CI 1.29 – 3.86, p= 0.004) and static postures (OR= 1.86, 95% CI 1.10 – 3.14, p= 0.021).Conclusion:This study showed that high prevalence of NP was associated with neck flexion or rotation, awkward and static postures.
Highlights
In Malaysia, agriculture is being promoted as the third engine of growth and modernization for poverty reduction as stated in its latest ninth- 5-year development plan (Ninth Malaysian Plan, 2006)
Binary logistic regression analysis showed risk factors for neck pain (NP) were decreased with age (OR= 3.92, 95% CI 1.61 – 9.58, p=0.003), increase in neck flexion or rotation (OR= 9.52, 95% CI 5.55 – 16.32, p= 0.001), awkward postures (OR=2.23, 95% CI 1.29 – 3.86, p= 0.004) and static postures (OR= 1.86, 95% CI 1.10 – 3.14, p= 0.021)
FELDA (Federal Land Development Authority) is the world's largest plantation operator with 811,140 hectares agriculture area. 722,946 hectares or 84.7 % of agricultural area are planted with oil palm, 84,496 hectares or 9.9 % are planted with rubber, 879 hectares or 0.1 % are planted with sugar cane and 2,819 hectares or 0.3 % are plantation such as timber trees, fruits and used for research (FELDA Annual Report, 2008)
Summary
In Malaysia, agriculture is being promoted as the third engine of growth and modernization for poverty reduction as stated in its latest ninth- 5-year development plan (Ninth Malaysian Plan, 2006). Farming and agriculture tasks are highly physical demanding, arduous and require extremely large of energy in performing their tasks This poses farm workers at potential risk of health problems caused by physical hazards, chemical hazards, biological hazards, psychosocial hazards and ergonomic hazards. A preliminary study of prevalence of MSS among Malaysian rubber tappers found that the prevalence of MSS within the last 12 months showed the highest for low back (74.4%) follow by shoulder (53.3%), neck (48.8%) and wrist/hand (48.8%), upper back (41.9%), elbow (39.5%), knee (39.5%) and ankle/foot (9.3%) (Asyraf et al, 2007). In a study by Rosnah et al(2007) on different occupation work posture risk analysis among oil palm plantation mechanical loader operators found that the prevalence of NP was highest with 84 respondents reported NP followed by knee pain (35 respondents), upper back pain (27 respondents) and ankle/feet pain, 24 respondents (Rosnah et al, 2007)
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