Health and working conditions of pregnant women working inside and outside the home in Mexico City

BACKGROUND: To explore differences related to health and working conditions by comparing socio-demographic parameters, reproductive and prenatal care characteristics and working conditions among pregnant women who are employed outside the home (extra-domestic) while still performing a domestic workload versus those who perform exclusively domestic work in the home (intra-domestic). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out at Family Medicine Unit N 31 of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) in Mexico City between April and July 2003. Interviews were conducted with 537 pregnant women engaged in either extra-domestic work plus intra-domestic tasks, or those performing strictly intra-domestic work. Information was obtained regarding their demographic status, prenatal care, reproductive, work characteristics, and health during pregnancy. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-six (36.5%) of the interviewed women had paid jobs outside the home in addition to domestic tasks, while three hundred forty-one (63.5 %) engaged in exclusively intra-domestic occupations. Of the women with paid jobs, 78.6% worked as clerks. Among domestic tasks, we found that the greatest workload was associated with washing of clothes, and our micro-ergonomic analysis revealed that women who worked strictly inside the home had a higher domestic workload versus employed women (69.2 vs. 44.9%). When we analyzed the effect of work on health during pregnancy, we observed that women who worked strictly inside the home were at a higher risk for musculoskeletal and genitourinary symptoms than those employed outside the home. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the effect of intra-domestic work should not be ignored when considering women's health during pregnancy, and that greater attention should be paid to women's working conditions during intra and extra-domestic work

Associations between neck musculoskeletal complaints and work related factors among public service computer workers in Kaunas

Objectives:Information technologies have been developing very rapidly, also in the case of occupational activities. Epidemiological studies have shown that employees, who work with computers, are more likely to complain of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between neck MSD and individual and work related factors. Materials and Methods: The investigation which consisted of two parts - a questionnaire study (using Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaire and Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire) and a direct observation (to evaluate ergonomic work environment using RULA method) was carried out in three randomly selected public sector companies of Kaunas. The study population consisted of 513 public service office workers. Results: The survey showed that neck MSDs were very common in the investigated population. The prevalence rate amounted to 65.7%. According to our survey neck MSDs were significantly associated with older age, bigger work experience, high quantitative and cognitive job demands, working for longer than 2 h without taking a break as well as with higher ergonomic risk score. The fully adjusted model working for longer than 2 h without taking a break had the strongest associations with neck complaints. Conclusion: It was confirmed, that neck MSDs were significantly associated with individual factors as well as conditions of work, therefore, preventive acions against neck complaints should be oriented at psychosocial and ergonomic work environment as well as at individual factors

Difference of actual handled weight and the recommended limit for dynamic asymmetrical manual handling tasks in chilean construction workers

Manual handling is a risk factor with high attributable fraction in lumbar pain, frequent injury among construction workers due to dynamic and complex tasks. The aim of this study was to establish the differences between the actual handled weight and the recommended weight limit (RWL) according to EC2 (Ergo Carga Construcción) evaluation method. The study was an analytic and non-experimental cross-section carried out in 32 construction sites with a sample of 186 workers. The positions assessed were bricklayer, scaffolding assembler, carpenters, hand laborers, construction laborers (excavation laborer/safety carpenter) and ironworkers during weight handling tasks. The EC2 method is designed to assess Dynamic Asymmetrical Manual Handling Tasks (DAMHT) and as result, estimates the Recommended Weight Limit (RWL) per task. Within the group 179 DAMHT were assessed. In the sample the actual handled weight was between 3 kg and 80 kg, with a median of 20 kg (ICR = 20 kg). Meanwhile the values of the RWL were between 1.8 kg y 28.7 kg, with a median of 7.31 kg (ICR = 3.37 kg). Generally, all positions handle weights above the RWL established by EC2. The analyzed sample has a difference of 10.98 kg (ICR 23.4), between the actual handled weight and the RWL. The exception are the construction laborers (excavation laborer/safety carpenter), who present a negative difference, while hand laborers (15.69 kg/ICR 25.84), bricklayer (15.17 kg/ICR 23.28) and ironworkers (10,7 kg/ICR 24,62 kg) presents the highest difference among the group. Contrasting research data with limits allowed by Chilean Law (Law 20.949 – maximum limit of 25 kg), a 33% of the sample performs DAMHT above lawful limits. 5% handle weights above 50 kg with a maximum of 80 kg. Regarding the RWL 83.2% of the manual handling observed is above this limit, therefore they imply high physical workload, thus the intervention must be not only with a technical approach but with administrative and engineering actions