Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37999798›Full record

SynthesisRheumatology international2024

Musculoskeletal disorders and pain in agricultural workers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mrithula Shivakumar, Victoria Welsh, Ram Bajpai, Toby Helliwell, Christian Mallen, Michelle Robinson, Thomas Shepherd

Open access · hybridAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Rheumatology international, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
18citing papers in PubMed
6.5field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

18 citing papers in PubMed, 27 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
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  13. Predictors of Low Back Pain Risk Among Farmers in Rural Communities of Loja, Ecuador.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025
    Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. The burden of low back pain in adolescents and young adults.Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation · 2024
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Mrithula Shivakumar *Keele University, Keele, David Weatherall Building, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 5BG, UK.ORCID 0009-0005-8774-6263
Victoria Welsh *Keele University, Keele, David Weatherall Building, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 5BG, UK. v.welsh@keele.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0002-9156-5271
Ram BajpaiKeele University, Keele, David Weatherall Building, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 5BG, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-1227-2703
Toby HelliwellKeele University, Keele, David Weatherall Building, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 5BG, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-3987-6045
Christian MallenKeele University, Keele, David Weatherall Building, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 5BG, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-2677-1028
Michelle RobinsonKeele University, Keele, David Weatherall Building, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 5BG, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-2266-8250
Thomas ShepherdKeele University, Keele, David Weatherall Building, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 5BG, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-8311-7452
Keele University · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Agricultural workers constitute two-thirds of the population of Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) and are at increased risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) due to high-risk activities. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to synthesise the prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of musculoskeletal pain amongst agricultural workers to identify priority areas for prevention and development of early interventions. This systematic review and meta-analysis included Studies published from the inception of global electronic databases until 30 September 2022 were included. Prevalence estimates for MSDs among agricultural workers aged over 18 years in LMIC were extracted. Narrative synthesis summarized study findings and pooled estimates for 12-month pain prevalence were calculated. 7502 potential studies were identified. 64 studies (68,684 participants from 23 countries) were included in the systematic review; 33 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Low back pain was the most widely investigated symptom. The 12-month pooled prevalence of low back pain was highest in Africa [61.96% (45.69-76.22)] compared to Asia [54.16% (47.76-60.50)] and South/Central America [28.52%(10.91-50.33)]. Narrative synthesis found associations between MSDs, particular activities including heavy lifting and repetitive movements, and outcomes including reduced productivity. MSDs are common in agriculture workers in LMIC. Global prevalence of low back pain in farmers, particularly in Africa, is greater than in previously reported global prevalence in the general population. This may be attributed to environmental factors and high-risk activities which could be targeted for prevention and early intervention strategies to support individuals, prevent disability, and reduce loss of productivity.

Indexed as

Low Back PainMusculoskeletal DiseasesMusculoskeletal PainOccupational DiseasesAdultDeveloping CountriesFarmersHumansPrevalenceAgricultural workersFarmersLow- and Middle-Income CountriesLow back painMusculoskeletal diseases

Identifiers

PMID37999798
PMCPMC10796632
OpenAlexW4388970605

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.