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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC 4.0La Medicina del Lavoro

Musculoskeletal Symptoms Among Agricultural Workers in Rural Communities of Loja, Ecuador

  • Dámaris Campaña-Cuichán1
  • Isabel Masson-Palacios2
  • Diana Vásquez-Muñoz1
  • Samuel Iñiguez-Jimenez3
  1. 1Facultad de Salud y Bienestar, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE), Ecuador
  2. 2Escuela de Fisioterapia, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, de la Salud y la Vida, Universidad Internacional del Ecuador (UIDE), Ecuador
  3. 3Facultad de Salud y Bienestar, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE), Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina (CISeAL), Ecuador
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Abstract

Background:: Musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) are among the most common occupational health problems worldwide and disproportionately affect agricultural workers because of the physical demands of their work. However, evidence on MSS prevalence among farmers in Ecuador remains limited. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of MSS and examine its association with selected sociodemographic and occupational factors among agricultural workers in rural communities in Loja, Ecuador.

Methods:: A descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted among 103 farmers using the Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). Descriptive statistics were used to estimate the 12-month prevalence of MSS, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess associations with sociodemographic and occupational variables.

Results:: A high prevalence of MSS was observed, particularly in the lower back (78.6%), knees (64.1%), and neck (58.3%). Overweight was significantly associated with lower back pain and marginally associated with neck pain. No significant associations were found between MSS prevalence and occupational exposure variables, such as working posture or weekly working hours.

Conclusions:: MSS are highly prevalent among agricultural workers in rural Ecuador. These findings highlight the need for preventive occupational health strategies to reduce musculoskeletal risk in agricultural settings.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{campanacuichan2026musculoskeletal,
  title = {{Musculoskeletal Symptoms Among Agricultural Workers in Rural Communities of Loja, Ecuador}},
  author = {Dámaris Campaña-Cuichán and Isabel Masson-Palacios and Diana Vásquez-Muñoz and Samuel Iñiguez-Jimenez},
  journal = {La Medicina del Lavoro},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.23749/mdl.2026.18879},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.23749/mdl.2026.18879},
  note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Musculoskeletal Symptoms Among Agricultural Workers in Rural Communities of Loja, Ecuador
AU  - Dámaris Campaña-Cuichán
AU  - Isabel Masson-Palacios
AU  - Diana Vásquez-Muñoz
AU  - Samuel Iñiguez-Jimenez
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/23
JO  - La Medicina del Lavoro
DO  - 10.23749/mdl.2026.18879
UR  - https://doi.org/10.23749/mdl.2026.18879
AB  - Background:: Musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) are among the most common occupational health problems worldwide and disproportionately affect agricultural workers because of the physical demands of their work. However, evidence on MSS prevalence among farmers in Ecuador remains limited. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of MSS and examine its association with selected sociodemographic and occupational factors among agricultural workers in rural communities in Loja, Ecuador.  Methods:: A descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted among 103 farmers using the Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). Descriptive statistics were used to estimate the 12-month prevalence of MSS, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess associations with sociodemographic and occupational variables.  Results:: A high prevalence of MSS was observed, particularly in the lower back (78.6%), knees (64.1%), and neck (58.3%). Overweight was significantly associated with lower back pain and marginally associated with neck pain. No significant associations were found between MSS prevalence and occupational exposure variables, such as working posture or weekly working hours.  Conclusions:: MSS are highly prevalent among agricultural workers in rural Ecuador. These findings highlight the need for preventive occupational health strategies to reduce musculoskeletal risk in agricultural settings.
SN  - 0025-7818
SN  - 2532-1080
ER  -