An experimental study to evaluate musculoskeletal disorders and postural stress of female craftworkers adopting different sitting postures.

This study aimed to evaluate musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and postural stress among female craftworkers. The study was carried out on 75 adult female craftworkers in different districts of West Bengal. The prevalence of MSDs, body part discomfort (BPD) rating and body joint angles of the workers were evaluated with standard methods. Electromyography (EMG) of the shoulder and back muscles was recorded with the BIOPAC system. The prevalence of MSDs, BPD rating and deviation of joint angle were comparatively lower in the case of sitting on the floor with folded legs than squatting and sitting on the floor with stretched legs postures. The EMG and rms values of the shoulder and back muscles were comparatively lower in this posture. Therefore, it was concluded that sitting on the floor with folded legs was less hazardous and it imposed less postural stress in comparison to other sitting postures.

Effect of garlic (Allium sativum) on nickel II or chromium VI induced alterations of glucose homeostasis and hepatic antioxidant status under sub-chronic exposure conditions.

Garlic (Allium sativum) has a profound effect in reducing plasma glucose and increasing serum insulin in diabetic rats. We studied the effect of a garlic extract on nickel- or chromium-induced alteration of plasma glucose and hepatic glycogen levels and anti-oxidant status in rats. Adult male albino rats (n=36) divided into six groups of six animals each were treated as follows: Group I, untreated controls; Group II, fresh aqueous homogenate of garlic; Group III, nickel sulfate; Group IV, nickel sulfate + garlic; Group V, potassium dichromate; Group VI, potassium dichromate + garlic. In Groups IV and VI, the simultaneous administration of garlic abrogated a significant nickel- or chromium-induced increase in plasma glucose and decrease in liver glycogen. Nickel and chromium alone also increased lipid peroxide (LPO) and decreased glutathione levels, as well as the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Simultaneous garlic administration significantly reduced the LPO level and remarkably improved SOD activity. Hence, we postulate that the administration of garlic can prevent nickel II- or chromium VI-induced alterations in blood glucose homeostasis while exerting a hepatoprotective effect on glycogen levels and antioxidant status in male albino rats.

Comparison between the motor function of school-aged children with normal birth weight and children with low birth weight: a cross-sectional study.

Pal A, Manna S, Dhara PC. Comparison between the motor function of school-aged children with normal birth weight and children with low birth weight: a cross-sectional study. Turk J Pediatr 2019; 61: 374-385. Low birth weight (LBW) children are prone to abnormal neurological signs in tone, coordination and reflexes, due to neonatal complications which lead to development of motor deficits and delays. The aim of the present study was a comparison between the motor function of school-age children with normal birth weight (NBW) and children with LBW. This study was conducted with 471 school-aged children from different districts of West Bengal, India. Different socio-demographic variables of the participants were studied by using a pre-structured schedule questionnaire. Gross motor function was studied by standing broad jump and vertical jump whereas fine motor function was studied by hand reaction time and speed of movement. Jumping skill was better among the boys than girls which implied that the gross motor skill of boys was better than girls. However, the hand reaction time and speed of movement among the girls was better than that of boys which implied that the fine motor skill of girls was better than boys. The postnatal growth of LBW children was significantly lower than that of NBW children. Both gross and fine motor performances of LBW children were significantly poorer than that of NBW children. This study found a strong association between birth weight and motor skills among school-age children even after controlling for the effects of age, gestational age, postnatal growth (height, weight and BMI) and socioeconomic status in a multivariable model. Thus, it appears that babies who are born with LBW have a tendency of neuro-developmental impairments during their childhood. Therefore, long-term monitoring programs and early detection and intervention is necessary in order to minimize future sequelae. The finding of this study indicates the importance of paying special attention to developmental follow up of high risk and LBW infants. It is proposed that more diagnostic evaluations be conducted on LBW infants for all aspects of development.

Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Postural Stress of the Women Cultivators Engaged in Uprooting Job of Rice Cultivation.

AIMS: A large number of workers including women are involved in the informal sector in India. A majority of them are engaged in agricultural sectors. The agricultural workers have to perform their jobs by putting manual labor and are exposed to different occupational stresses. The present study was aimed to evaluate postural stress and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) of women cultivators engaged in uprooting job of rice cultivation. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 166 women cultivators from different districts of West Bengal state, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prevalence and intensity of MSDs of the cultivators were evaluated by Nordic questionnaire and 10-point body part discomfort scale. Work rest pattern and postural pattern were studied by direct observation method. Postural stress was assessed by OVAKO Working Postures Analysis System (OWAS), Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), and Quick Exposure Checklist (QEC) methods and as well as by measuring center of gravity. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: MSD was highly prevalent among the study participants. Lower back, hip, wrist, shoulder, and knee were highly affected. Higher prevalence of MSDs among the cultivators may be because of prolonged working hours and awkward postures. The women cultivators had to start their day before dawn to finish off their household chores such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes and dishes, etc., before they moved off to the fields, which altogether impose them under additional stress. It may be suggested that ergonomic interventions such as modifying work-rest schedules, improving work postures, and introducing new design hand tools should be considered for improving work condition of the women cultivators.

Evaluation of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Postural Stress of Female "Jari" Workers.

AIMS: The present investigation was aimed to assess the postural stress and the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of the "Jari" (golden thread) workers. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 156 female workers in different areas of the Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, and Howrah districts of West Bengal, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MSDs of the workers were evaluated by modified Nordic questionnaire method. The postural pattern during work was assessed by direct observation method. The posture of Jari workers has been analyzed by OWAS, REBA, and RULA methods. The joint angle in normal and working posture was observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of MSDs was very high among the workers. The major locations of body pains in Jari workers were lower back, upper back, neck, wrist, thigh, and shoulder. The occurrence of MSDs was higher in lower and higher age group than that of the middle age group. The total work shift of the workers was approximately 13 h including rest pause. The dominant postures adopted by the workers were sitting on the floor with stretched legs, sitting on the floor with folded knees, and kneeling posture. From the results of the postural analysis, the postures of the Jari workers had been categorized as stressful. There were a significant deviation between normal standing angles and working angles. From the overall study, it may be concluded that adoption of stressful postures for longer duration might be the cause of MSDs in different body parts of the Jari workers.

Prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors: A cross-sectional study among rural adolescents in West Bengal, India.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition is a silent emergency and it is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among children and adolescent throughout the world. The present study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of malnutrition among 10 to 17 years old adolescent and its association with socio-demographic factors. DESIGN AND SETTING: This community based cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between May 2014 to April 2015 on 839 subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Anthropometric measures were measured in 560 adolescents in rural areas of West Bengal state, India, by using standard technique. Different socio-demographic variables were studied by questioner method. RESULTS: In the present investigation, about 54% of adolescents were stunted and 49% were thin. The adolescents belonged to lower social class were significantly more likely to be stunted (OR = 2.68) and thin (OR = 2.44). Other variables like father's occupation, mother's education, economic status and sanitation showed significant and negative association with undernutrition. However, mother's working status showed significant and positive association with undernutrition. Adolescents of working mothers were more likely to be stunted and thin than those who do not worked outside of the home. The adolescents of women with higher education were less likely to be undernourished than adolescents of poor and uneducated women. Adolescents of nuclear families (family size <4) were more likely to be stunted and thin. CONCLUSIONS: Poverty is found to be an important factor of undernutrition among the adolescents. So there is a require to implement well-thought poverty reduction actions along with providing mass education regarding nutrition and health with a special focus on economically and socially deprived sections of the society.

An ergonomic approach for designing indian traditional vegetable cutter.

BACKGROUND: In India varieties of hand tools have been used to cut the vegetables. Traditional vegetable cutter is a commonly used hand tool which has been used for years in the kitchen. The tool may have some design related problems. The present study was undertaken to reduce those problems. OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to evaluate a new design of traditional vegetable cutters for use in the Indian kitchen. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and fifty Indian women who regularly used a vegetable cutter for cooking purposes participated in this study. METHODS: The design of the vegetable cutter was modified based on the postural preference of the users and other anthropometric factors including the blade angle, length, breadth and width of the sitting area. The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was assessed by means of a questionnaire for subjects' feedback. New concepts of the design were proposed and a few prototypes were made and were tested by paired comparison using the EMG system. RESULTS: A large number of subjects (61%) used the vegetable cutter while sitting on the floor with folded knees and the prevalence of MSD in most of the body parts was comparatively lower in this posture than that in squatting posture. In the new design, a broad platform was suggested to provide a more comfortable sitting when a subject sits on it with folded knees. For the vegetable cutter, the blade angle was made at 120° with a broad folded wooden base as the final prototype of the cutter. The length, breadth, and thickness of the base were selected based on the results of the anthropometric measurements among the prototypes of the cutters. The selected vegetable cutter showed the least myoelectric activity among the prototypes during cutting vegetables. CONCLUSION: The modified vegetable cutter appeared to be ergonomically effective, less prone to muscular stress, and compatible for preferred posture of the users.

PHYSIOLOGICAL STRAIN AMONG WOMEN POTATO CULTIVATORS IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA.

The present study was aimed to evaluate physiological strain among women cultivators engaged in potato cultivation. The cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 150 women participants in different districts of West Bengal State, India. The physiological strain was evaluated by working heart rate, blood lactate and oxygen consumption. The average working heart rate was 109.97 ± 9.94 beats/min when all tasks were considered together. According to the working heart rate, oxygen consumption and energy cost, the potato cultivation job was categorized as a moderate work category. Whereas, according to cardiovascular stress index (CSI), all tasks of potato cultivation were categorized into a stressful category. The more experienced workers were more productive than their less experienced counterparts, and this increased productivity appeared to be a combination of greater efficiency and greater physical exertion. Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses revealed that work pace and work experience had significant association with all the indices of physiological strain. Work pace had strongest significant impact on these indices even after controlling the effect of age, work experience and efficiency. It was concluded that during performing potato cultivation tasks the workers had a great extent of physiological strain.