Incidences of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Housemaids: The Urban Poor Dwelling in Slums of Mumbai

Abstract

To decipher the incidences of MSDs among Indian Housemaids, the urban poor dwelling in the slums of Mumbai and to explore the possible relationship between MSDs and body composition of elderly and of the younger maids. Every occupation requires hard work. Housemaids carry out diverse household work that might range from cutting of vegetables in the kitchen to washing clothes. These dissimilar activities, often carried out with inappropriate postures over a number of years, predispose the housemaids to a plethora of musculoskeletal disorders. The present study will help to identify and alleviate these problems through early diagnosis and proactive interventions. Subjects belonging to the urban poor of low socio economic background were included in the study. A total of 41 maids volunteered to participate in the study and they were divided into two groups: Group A comprised 24 women between 41-60 years and Group B comprised 17 women in the age range of 20-40 years. Personal, social and occupational details of each women volunteer were collected through a structured interview. The body composition was accessed using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders were assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Group A volunteers were found to be significantly heavier (p<0.01), with significantly higher BMIs, body fat % and fat weight (p<0.01), as compared to their Group B counterparts. Group A volunteers principally reported pain in the wrists / hands and back. By comparison, Group B volunteers mainly reported pain in the neck (89%), back (41.17%) and ankles/ feet (64.7%); the common area of pain for both the groups being the back. The study was able to demonstrate the high and alarming incidences of MSDs in housemaids, particularly those in the higher age group and belonging to the lower socioeconomic strata. Therefore, an in-depth study with wider ramification needs to be taken up in future.