British Journal of Medicine & Medical Research 9(8): 1-9, 2015, Article no.BJMMR.18747 ISSN: 2231-0614
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Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Workers at Gold Mine Industry in Ghana: Prevalence and Patterns of Occurrence Andrews Kwabena Tawiah1*, Bertha Oppong-Yeboah2 and Ajediran Idowu Bello2 1
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, England. Department of Physiotherapy, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana.
2
Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Author AKT designed the study protocol and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Authors AKT and BOY involved in data collection and analysis. Author AIB transformed the manuscript into intellectual context. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/BJMMR/2015/18747 Editor(s): (1) Bodur Hatice, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Turkey. (2) Masahiro Hasegawa, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu City, Mie, 514-8507, Japan. Reviewers: (1) Anonymous, Dr. D. Y. Patil University, India. (2) Anonymous, University of Zambia, Zambia. (3) Oyewole O. Olufemi, Physiotherapy, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. (4) Ting Xia, Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, Palmer College of Chiropractic, USA. Complete Peer review History: http://sciencedomain.org/review-history/10171
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Original Research Article
Received 8 May 2015 Accepted 25th June 2015 th Published 14 July 2015
ABSTRACT Background: Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs) constitutes major constraint to optimal performance among workers. However, information about its prevalence and pattern of occurrence among Ghanaians working in gold mine industries remain insufficient. Objective: To determine the prevalence of WRMSDs among workers of AngloGold Ashanti (AGA)Obuasi mine. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 28-point self-administered questionnaire modified from the Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Quota sampling was applied using ratios according to the number of workers in each department. Data _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: Email:
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Tawiah et al.; BJMMR, 9(8): 1-9, 2015; Article no.BJMMR.18747
were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics at alpha level of .05. Results: Two hundred and five (205) workers participated in the cross-sectional survey. 12-month prevalence of WRMSD was 85.5% and low-back had the highest percentage 178 (30.0%) as regards the affected body segments. Fifty seven (30.7%) reported that pain or discomfort had prevented them from working optimally and 28 (13.7%) of the respondents have had to change the area or specialty of their work as a result of WRMSDs. Seventy six (23.1%) and 51 (24.9%) of the respondents indicated accidental falls from a height and working in the same position for long periods as moderate and severe risk factors respectively. Nature of work engagement was 2 significantly associated (χ =27.73 P
