The work of the midwives is highly demanding and responsible, as well as associated with significant load on the musculoskeletal system.
The aim of the study was to follow the frequency and localization of musculoskeletal disorders and diagnosed diseases of the musculoskeletal system among midwives working in hospitals.
Methods The study included 176 midwives with an average age of 48.9 ± 13.1 years working in hospitals in the city of Sofia. An adapted questionnaire was applied to collect information for musculoskeletal symptoms and physician-diagnosed diseases. Data were processed with the statistical package SPSS 20.0.
Results and Discussion The incidence of musculoskeletal complaints was high. The most common complaints were in the lower back (67.7%), followed by the back (61.1%), neck (56.3%) and shoulders (50.3%). Diagnosed diseases of the musculoskeletal system were consistent with the complaints. The analysis of the data showed that poor working conditions, frequent work in uncomfortable working postures with bending, twisting and stretching increased the frequency of musculoskeletal complaints.
Conclusion The results point to further study of the ergonomic characteristics of workplaces and work movements and the organization of the work process in order to improve working conditions and protect the health of midwives working in hospitals.
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