Investigating the Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Determining Effective Factors Among Midwives in Sari

Abstract

Background and purpose: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are becoming increasingly prevalent as a source of occupational disability injuries. Musculoskeletal disorders in midwives are a major concern, as midwifery is one of the professions with a high risk of occupational diseases, in addition to risk factors such as awkward posture, repetition of movements, heavy workload, fatigue, and stress, are also dependent on individual-organizational factors, which can be caused by occupational tensions and may lower the quality of care provided to mothers and newborns. Because there is little research in this field, the current study aimed to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among midwives working in public and private hospitals in Sari City, as well as the influence of related risk factors on it. Materials and methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 (summer) among midwives working in public and private hospitals in Sari City as a census. 193 workers in maternity wards were chosen, with having more than one year of experiencea nd the exclusion being a history of musculoskeletal disorders. The data collection tool included a demographic and organizational information collection form, the Cornell musculoskeletal disorders questionnaire. This questionnaire looks at 12 body areas and the frequency, severity, and impact of discomfort on work abilities throughout the previous working week. Data analysis was done by SPSS statistical software, descriptive statistics, chi-square, and independent t-tests at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The mean and standard deviation of the age and work history of the studied subjects were 35.60±7.74 and 10.42±6.84, respectively. Analysis of the frequency of musculoskeletal problems revealed that the most commonly affected areas were the wrists, shoulders, lower back, and neck. Meanwhile, 79.4% of people have experienced discomfort in at least one of the various organs. In terms of the amount of pain, the highest average pain sensation among participants was reported the highest average pain intensity at night (40.7%). Based on the results, the highest prevalence of MSDs was found in the neck region (58.4%), followed by the lower back (57.6%), shoulder (53.9%), and then one or both wrists (51%). Also, the average age and history of midwives with MSDs had a significant relationship (P<0.05). Conclusion: The current study found that the majority of midwives felt pain and discomfort in at least one part of the musculoskeletal system. Also, the highest rate of musculoskeletal disorders was in the neck, waist, and shoulder, respectively, which indicates the high prevalence of disorders in the upper limbs. The study's analytical investigations revealed an effective relationship between the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and demographic and work-related variables. As a result, to improve working conditions and reduce musculoskeletal disorders in midwives, specialized ergonomics

Keywords

• musculoskeletal disorders
• hospital
• midwifery
• pain
• cornell questionnaire