Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders Situation among Cultivating Agriculturists in Upper Northeastern of Thailand

Abstract

          This study aimed to investigate the situation work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among cultivating agriculturist in Northeast of Thailand. The secondary data for the fiscal year 2020 was collected from 43 health data files (ICD-10 codes) and the number of registered agriculturist data from the provinces of Khon Kaen, Roi Et, Udon Thani, and Nong Bua Lamphu. This study estimated occurrence rate of MSDs (ICD-10 code, group M00-M99) or musculoskeletal symptoms (ICD-10 codes, U and S groups) per 100,000 agriculturists. Agriculturist who was sorted by occupational codes were identified by ICD-10 as MSDs or musculoskeletal symptoms. Divided by the total number of registered agriculturists as cultivators of economic crops in the area and multiplied by 100,000 registered agriculturalists. The findings revealed that 211,964 individuals (53.74%) who grew vegetables, crops, and rice (occupational code as 6111) were the majority of agriculturists who received hospitalization. 716,203 in-season rice agriculturist were discovered to be enrolled as agriculturalists (81.59%). Additionally, the rate of musculoskeletal symptoms was 2.13 times higher than the rate of MSDs. In Roi-Et province, the rate of musculoskeletal symptoms was found to be greatest (15,660.16 per 100,000 registered agriculturist). Therefore, musculoskeletal symptoms surveillance needs to be a primary concern. In particular, the Thai traditional medicine system's (Code U) ICD-10 code aims to reduce symptom severity and chronic MSDs.