Prevalence of low back pain and work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Brazilian domestics and cleaners: 2013 and 2019 National Health Survey.

Introduction: Low back pain and work-related musculoskeletal disorders are two of the leading causes of absenteeism worldwide.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and predictive factors of low back pain and work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Brazilian domestics and cleaners.

Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study used data from the 2013 and 2019 National Health Survey (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde), involving a total of 8,160 workers. The prevalence of low back pain and work-related musculoskeletal disorders was calculated based on adjusted prevalence ratio by Poisson regression and 95%CI.

Results: The prevalence of lowback pain was 19.1% in 2013 and 20.6% in 2019, while the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was 2.2% in 2013 and 2.4% in 2019. Low back pain was associated with older age (prevalence ratio: 1.74; 95%CI 1.44-2.09), poor or very poor self-rated health (prevalence ratio: 2.10; 95%CI 1.76-2.50), holding a prepaid health plan (prevalence ratio: 1.27; 95%CI 1.09-1.47), and moderately severe (prevalence ratio: 2.27; 95%CI 1.84-2.80) or severe (prevalence ratio: 2.32; 95%CI 1.77-3.04) depressive symptoms. Musculoskeletal disorders affected domestics less frequently (prevalence ratio: 0.53; 95%CI 0.40-0.72) and were associated with women (prevalence ratio: 2.50; 95%CI 1.34-4.66), adults (40-59 years) (prevalence ratio: 1.79; 95%CI 1.26-2.55), holding a prepaid health plan (prevalence ratio: 2.31; 95%CI 1.63-3.26), and the presence of moderately severe (prevalence ratio: 4.00; 95%CI 2.34-6.86) or severe (prevalence ratio: 3.63; 95%CI 1.77-7.46) depressive symptoms.

Conclusions: Brazilian domestics and cleaners need interventions and improvements in health care given the prevalence of low back pain and musculoskeletal disorders as well as their association with depression.