Musculoskeletal disorders among full-time homemakers in poor communities

To examine factors associated with self-reported musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) among full-time female homemakers.

Data on socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle and health were collected on 1266 married women aged 15-59 years living in poor suburbs in the outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon. Independent associations with MSD of factors and characteristics were examined using odds ratios (ORs) derived from multiple logistic regression.

Women's age, weight, and number of children were significantly, positively, independently associated with self-reported MSD, while women's conduct of specific household tasks were not. Women with MSD were more likely to be stressed than women without MSD (OR = 1.5).

A major finding of this study was the positive association between distress and musculoskeletal disorders. The measures used to assess women's involvement in housework did not account for the duration of time spent performing each household task. Better measures of domestic labor, including housework and childcare, are required to understand better their impact on the health of full-time homemakers and on MSD in particular. Intervention programs to alleviate MSD in full-time homemakers should address psychosocial factors.