Chronic low back pain among tobacco farmers in southern Brazil

Abstract

Background: Despite tobacco farming involving intensive manual labor, chronic low back pain (CLBP) prevalence and associated factors are unknown among this occupational group. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in southern Brazil. A random sample of tobacco farmers was interviewed. Socioeconomic and individual characteristics, occupational tasks, workloads, and comorbidities were investigated. Chronic low back pain prevalence was described in relation to independent variables, and associations were examined with Poisson regression. Results: Chronic low back pain prevalence was 8.4%. Increasing age, rearing two or more species of livestock (PR 1.65), exposure to tasks that require heavy physical exertion (PR 2.00), working in awkward postures (PR 1.36), green tobacco sickness (GTS) (PR 1.63), pesticide poisoning (PR 2.37), and minor psychiatric disorders (PR 2.55) were associated with CLBP. Conclusions: This study found that CLBP is a relevant health problem among tobacco farmers and highlights understudied risk factors such as pesticide poisoning and GTS. Policies to minimize exposure to physiological and chemical workloads in tobacco planting to prevent CLBP are needed. Health professionals should be trained to diagnose and prevent acute low back pain episodes and thus prevent/minimize limitations and disabilities due to CLBP.

Socio-environmental risks associated with the green tobacco sickness in farmers: a case-control study

“…It is warned that cutting tobacco requires that the worker flex the spine to reach the foot of the plant, which, according to a study (21) , can cause problems in the spine, besides requiring a considerable physical effort, associated to the period of heat, greater perspiration and, consequently, increase in the absorption of nicotine. Researchers have identified that the harvesting of lower tobacco leaves is more likely to develop GTS by the above factors (10) .…”

Urban Versus Rural: A Cross-Sectional Study of a Successful Peruvian Global Health Medical Mission

“…[11] These findings likely relate to many of the patients' occupations in manual labor and agricultural fields, which are well-established causes of MSK complaints. [16][17][18][19] Occupational customs in SV may impact hydration status. When asked, some patients reported that while doing agricultural work, it was very inconvenient to carry water and stay adequately hydrated.…”

Assessment of the type of farmers’ low back pain

“…The studies carried out by various authors [5,9,[13][14][15][16] revealed that low back pain was the most frequent type of pain that farmers reported, followed by neck, shoulder and upper back pain.…”

“…In their studies, scientists from Sweden [3], Nigeria [4], Brazil [5] and the USA [6][7][8][9][10][11] reported that low back pain and musculoskeletal disorder symptoms occurred among farmers.…”