Exposure to adverse levels of psychosocial work risk factors is associated with higher prevalence of MPS among both formal and informal workers. However, the role of employment informality in this association is complex and requires further examination.
IntroductionThe continuous increase in psychosocial demands of work contributes to increase health problems such as musculoskeletal pain (DME). The First Survey on Working Conditions and Health in Central America (I ECCTS) offers a unique opportunity to study the relationship in low- and middle-income between formal and informal workers.ObjectiveTo assess the association between psychosocial risk factors and musculoskeletal complaints in the six Spanish-speaking countries of Central America.MethodsA representative sample of 12,024 nationally workforce in Central America was used to estimated the association between psychosocial factors and the DME by calculating prevalence ratios (PR) with Poisson regression models.ResultsThe prevalence of DME, especially cervical and dorsal, were higher in women (53% Nicaragua), manual workers (54% El Salvador) and informal (39.0% Central) than men (48.5% El Salvador), the collar (45% Nicaragua) and formal (30.2% Central), respectively. Exposure to unfavourable levels of psychosocial factors associated with higher prevalence of DME (RP = 1.62 [95% CI: 1.42 to 1.85] to the high demand) but the differences in DME in relation to psychosocial factors were higher among formal than among informal workers.ConclusionsThis is the first scientific evidence in middle and low income on how the relationship between psychosocial factors and health varies formal employment of workers. These results can be used to develop occupational health policies in Latin America.
Objectives. To analyze changes in occupational health inequity between 2011 and 2018 among workers in Central America. Methods. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews at the workers’ homes for the 2 Central America Working Conditions Surveys (n=12 024 in 2011 and n=9030 in 2018). We estimated health inequity gaps by means of absolute and relative population attributable risks and the weighted Keppel index. We stratified all analyses by gender. Results. Between 2011 and 2018, the proportion of workers reporting poor self-perceived health decreased both in women (from 32% to 29%) and men (from 33% to 30%). However, the health inequity gaps remained wide in the 4 stratifiers. Measured by the Keppel index, health inequity gaps between countries increased from 22% to 39% in women and from 20% to 29% in men. Conclusions. While health improved between 2011 and 2018, health inequity gaps remained wide. Wider health inequity gaps were observed between countries than by gender, age, occupation, or education. Public Health Implications. This first benchmark of occupational health inequities in Central America could be useful when developing and evaluating the impact of public policies on work. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print June 10, 2021: e1–e10. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306276 )
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