Characteristics of Musculoskeletal Complaints among House Maids

Abstract

Background: Muscular skeletal disorders, are common in housemaids and have a negative impact on their quality of life and productivity at work. Interventions targeted at lowering these difficulties might be guided by knowledge of prevalent complaints and related factors. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the common musculoskeletal complaints among housemaids. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 100 housemaids from the Savar area using convenience sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS 25. The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, its severity, and associated factors were examined. Including chi-square tests to determine associations between variables. Results: The mean age of participants was 33.36 years, with 50% aged between 30-39 years. The majority (87%) were married and had only completed primary education (62%). The study revealed that 54% of housemaids engaged in sweeping, 50% worked in a sitting position, and 58% worked 3-4 hours per day. The most common musculoskeletal complaints were lower back pain (25%), shoulder pain (16%), and thigh pain (13%). Chi-square tests indicated no significant association between work hours (p=0.372), and significantly relation with age (p=0.001), or work posture (p=0.001) with musculoskeletal complaints, suggesting other factors may contribute to pain. Conclusion: The findings underscore the high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among housemaids, particularly in the lower back and shoulder areas. Despite the absence of significant associations with work hours and significantly relation with age, or posture, the results highlight the need for targeted interventions such as ergonomic training and health education to mitigate musculoskeletal disorders. Future research with larger and more representative samples is recommended to further explore these associations and develop effective prevention strategies. Keywords: Musculoskeletal Disorders, Housemaids, Musculoskeletal pain. Total word count:10343