The Relationship Between Work Posture and Other Factors with Musculoskeletal Complaints in Hip Porters

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that more than 1.71 billion people worldwide experience musculoskeletal problems that impact productivity and quality of life, with 619 million cases of low back pain in 2020 predicted to increase to 843 million by 2050. Porters are one of the informal sector workers vulnerable to musculoskeletal complaints due to repetitive manual handling activities with heavy loads. This study aims to determine the relationship between work period, work posture, repetition, work duration, and workload with musculoskeletal complaints in porters at Kramat Jati Main Market, East Jakarta. This type of study is quantitative with a cross-sectional design, involving 56 respondents selected by purposive sampling. The research instrument used the Nordic Body Map (NBM) to identify musculoskeletal complaints and the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) to assess the risk of work posture. Data analysis was performed using the Chi-Square test. The results showed that the majority of respondents experienced moderate musculoskeletal complaints (66.1%). There was a significant correlation between length of service (p=0.010), work posture (p=0.002), and workload (p=0.043) with musculoskeletal complaints. Meanwhile, age, repetition, and work duration were not associated with musculoskeletal complaints. In conclusion, musculoskeletal complaints are influenced by length of service, work posture, and workload. Preventive efforts should focus on controlling work posture, limiting lifting loads, and providing regular health checks for workers with long working periods.