Prevalence of low back pain and work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Brazilian domestics and cleaners: 2013 and 2019 National Health Survey.

INTRODUCTION

Low back pain and work-related musculoskeletal disorders are two of the leading causes of absenteeism worldwide.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence and predictive factors of low back pain and work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Brazilian domestics and cleaners.

METHODS

This population-based cross-sectional study used data from the 2013 and 2019 National Health Survey (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde), involving a total of 8,160 workers. The prevalence of low back pain and work-related musculoskeletal disorders was calculated based on adjusted prevalence ratio by Poisson regression and 95%CI.

RESULTS

The prevalence of lowback pain was 19.1% in 2013 and 20.6% in 2019, while the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was 2.2% in 2013 and 2.4% in 2019. Low back pain was associated with older age (prevalence ratio: 1.74; 95%CI 1.44-2.09), poor or very poor self-rated health (prevalence ratio: 2.10; 95%CI 1.76-2.50), holding a prepaid health plan (prevalence ratio: 1.27; 95%CI 1.09-1.47), and moderately severe (prevalence ratio: 2.27; 95%CI 1.84-2.80) or severe (prevalence ratio: 2.32; 95%CI 1.77-3.04) depressive symptoms. Musculoskeletal disorders affected domestics less frequently (prevalence ratio: 0.53; 95%CI 0.40-0.72) and were associated with women (prevalence ratio: 2.50; 95%CI 1.34-4.66), adults (40-59 years) (prevalence ratio: 1.79; 95%CI 1.26-2.55), holding a prepaid health plan (prevalence ratio: 2.31; 95%CI 1.63-3.26), and the presence of moderately severe (prevalence ratio: 4.00; 95%CI 2.34-6.86) or severe (prevalence ratio: 3.63; 95%CI 1.77-7.46) depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Brazilian domestics and cleaners need interventions and improvements in health care given the prevalence of low back pain and musculoskeletal disorders as well as their association with depression.