Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health
Volume 71, Issue 3, 2016, Pages 136-143

Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among immigrant Latino farmworkers and non-farmworkers in North Carolina (Article)

Mora D.C.* , Miles C.M. , Chen H. , Quandt S.A. , Summers P. , Arcury T.A.
  • a Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • b Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • c Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Division of Public Health Sciences, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • d Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Division of Public Health Sciences, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • e Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • f Department of Family and Community Medicine, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States

Abstract

This paper evaluates the variability in the prevalence of epicondylitis, rotator cuff syndrome, low back pain, and lower extremity pathology among immigrant Latino farmworkers and non-farmworkers. Data were collected from a study among 272 farmworkers and non-farmworkers. Participants were recruited in eastern and central North Carolina. A physical examination was conducted by trained physicians. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among Latino manual workers is high compared with other workers in similar occupations. Non-farmworkers (49%) had a higher prevalence of MSDs than farmworkers (35%). Epicondylitis (20.2%) and rotator cuff syndrome (19.1%) were most prevalent. Age was found to be significant among those who had epicondylitis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.04) and lower extremity pathology (AOR = 1.07). Latino immigrant manual workers have high prevalence of MSDs. Further studies are needed to identify possible factors that make these populations more vulnerable to MSDs. © 2016 Taylor & Francis.

Author Keywords

Latino Immigrant Musculoskeletal disorders Manual workers Farmworkers

Index Keywords

North Carolina Interviews as Topic male Emigrants and Immigrants female Occupational Diseases Humans prevalence Hispanic Americans qualitative research interview Musculoskeletal Diseases human adult migrant Hispanic
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84950147855&doi=10.1080%2f19338244.2014.988676&partnerID=40&md5=2e7d865f2020a8a3c6fd827365f9b4a1
DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2014.988676
ISSN: 19338244
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English