Hidden burdens of informal labor: Musculoskeletal morbidity among brick kiln workers in rural West Bengal
Aniruddha Biswas, Jayita Pal, Kirtesh Tiwari, Sanjoy Kumar Sadhukhan, Nilima SarenAbstract
Background:
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are highly prevalent among brick kiln workers due to the physically strenuous nature of their tasks, including repetitive lifting, awkward postures, and prolonged working hours. These conditions often lead to reduced work capacity and frequent sickness absenteeism. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of MSDs and identify their key predictors among brick kiln workers in the Basirhat II block of West Bengal.
Material and Methods:
A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2024 among 140 adult brick kiln workers selected using stratified random sampling across five brick kiln sites. Data were collected through a predesigned, interviewer-administered questionnaire incorporating the standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done using Jamovi version 2.6.26, including multivariate logistic regression to identify independent predictors of MSDs.
Results:
The prevalence of MSDs was 77.9%, with lower back (34.9%), shoulders (31.2%), and neck (30.3%) being the most commonly affected sites. Multivariate analysis revealed that female gender (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =5.27; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.89–14.71), overweight or obesity (AOR = 3.44; 95% CI: 1.41–8.42), alcohol consumption (AOR = 3.18; 95% CI: 1.28–7.90), and working more than 48 h per week (AOR = 2.72; 95% CI: 1.03–7.21) were independently associated with MSDs after adjusting for confounders. Chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension showed no significant association.
Conclusion:
This study highlights the urgent need for gender-sensitive occupational health strategies, ergonomic interventions, regulation of work hours, and targeted health education to reduce the burden of MSDs among brick kiln workers in rural settings.