Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38872154›Full record

ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2024

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among desludging operators in Uganda.

Bridget Nagawa Tamale, Tonny Ssekamatte, John Bosco Isunju, Aisha Nalugya, Mujjabi Martin Mukasa, Arnold Tigaiza, Doreen Nakalembe, Winnifred K Kansiime, Ceaser Kimbugwe, Jane Sembuche Mselle and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Bridget Nagawa TamaleDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda. tamalebridget04@gmail.com.
Tonny SsekamatteDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
John Bosco IsunjuDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Aisha NalugyaDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Mujjabi Martin MukasaDepartment of Urban Water and Sewerage Services, Ministry of Water and Environment, Kampala, Uganda.
Arnold TigaizaDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Doreen NakalembeDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Winnifred K KansiimeDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Ceaser KimbugwePrograms Department, WaterAid Uganda, Kampala, Uganda.
Jane Sembuche MsellePrograms Department, WaterAid Uganda, Kampala, Uganda.
Richard K MugambeDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite the limited evidence, desludging operators remain at a heightened risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). This study established the prevalence and predictors of WMSDs among desludging operators in Uganda.

methodsA digitalized structured questionnaire was used to collect cross-sectional data on musculoskeletal disorders and routine workplace activities from 303 desludging operators in 11 cities in Uganda. These cities were purposively selected based on the presence of a fecal sludge treatment plant or wastewater treatment plant. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was used to assess WMSDs. Simple random sampling with replacements was used to select respondents. Data were analyzed using STATA version 15.0. Modified Poisson Regression was used to measure the strength of association between the independent variables and WMSDs.

resultsA total of 303 study participants were interviewed (97.7% response rate). The average age of the respondents was 34.0 years (SD ± 9.8). The prevalence of WMSDs among desludging operators was 29.7%. The body parts affected by MSDs were; the elbow for 4.6% (14/303), shoulder for 5.0% (15/303), and wrist/hand for 6.3% (19/303) of the respondents. At multivariable analysis, after controlling for age, desludging operators' ability to influence the availability of equipment needed to do their work (APR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.20-0.99), and feeling that everything done was an effort (APR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.01-2.87) were significantly associated with WMSDs.

conclusionThe prevalence of WMSDs was high among desludging operators in Uganda. Desludging operators' ability to influence the availability of equipment needed to do their work and frequency of feeling that everything done was an effort were significantly associated with WMSDs. Interventions should focus on ensuring adequate provision of ergonomic equipment and promoting practices that reduce the physical strain associated with desludging tasks. Additionally, comprehensive training programs addressing proper lifting techniques and posture awareness could significantly mitigate the risk of WMSDs among desludging-operators.

Indexed as

Musculoskeletal DiseasesOccupational DiseasesAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansLiftingMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceRisk FactorsSurveys and QuestionnairesUgandaYoung AdultDesludging operatorsErgonomic hazardsUgandaWork-related Musculoskeletal disorders

Identifiers

PMID38872154
PMCPMC11170829

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.