Xiang H, Stallones L, Keefe T J
Department of Environmental Health, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523-1676, USA.
Am J Ind Med. 1999 Mar;35(3):310-6. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199903)35:3<310::aid-ajim12>3.0.co;2-d.
Back pain is the most prevalent occupational health problem experienced by much of the world's workforce. However, agricultural work-related back pain occurring among US farmers working on small operations or family farms is usually not included in surveillance. With data collected by Colorado Farm Family Health and Hazard Surveillance Survey, this study reports characteristics of and risk factors for back pain among adult farmers living in eight Colorado counties.
A stratified probability sample of 500 farms was selected in proportion to the number of farms in study areas. During the 4-year period from 1993 through 1996, 458 farms were enrolled in the study and 759 farmers were interviewed using a questionnaire. Information on self-reported back pain and potential risk factors among 742 white farmers was evaluated and reported here.
A total of 194 farmers (26.2%) reported to have had at least one episode of back pain lasting for 1 week or more. Males had a slightly higher prevalence of back pain than females (28.6% vs. 22.5%) and the lower back was the predominantly affected part of body among both males and females. In 45.4% of males and 43.9% of females back pain was brought on by repeated activities. Males' activities at work were more likely to cause back pain while females' activities at home were more likely to cause back pain. Three factors were found to be significantly associated with back pain: being depressed (odds ratio (OR) = 3.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.23-6.09), farming/ranching as main activities (OR = 1.66, CI = 1.17-2.36), and worked in agriculture for 10 to 29 years (OR = 1.62, CI = 1.14-2.30).
Our analyses indicate that back pain is an occupational health problem among farmers on small operations or family farms and that back pain affected males and females differently. The finding of significant positive associations between depression, farming activities, and back pain warrants further attention.
背痛是世界上许多劳动力所经历的最普遍的职业健康问题。然而，在美国从事小规模经营或家庭农场工作的农民中，与农业工作相关的背痛通常未被纳入监测范围。通过科罗拉多农场家庭健康与危害监测调查收集的数据，本研究报告了居住在科罗拉多州八个县的成年农民背痛的特征和风险因素。
按照研究区域内农场数量的比例，选取了500个农场的分层概率样本。在1993年至1996年的4年期间，458个农场参与了研究，并使用问卷对759名农民进行了访谈。在此评估并报告了742名白人农民中自我报告的背痛及潜在风险因素的信息。
共有194名农民（26.2%）报告至少有一次背痛发作持续1周或更长时间。男性背痛的患病率略高于女性（28.6%对22.5%），并且下背部是男性和女性身体中主要受影响的部位。在45.4%的男性和43.9%的女性中，背痛是由重复性活动引起的。男性的工作活动更有可能导致背痛，而女性在家中的活动更有可能导致背痛。发现有三个因素与背痛显著相关：抑郁（优势比（OR）=3.68，95%置信区间（CI）=2.23 - 6.09）、以务农/畜牧为主要活动（OR =1.66，CI =1.17 - 2.36）以及从事农业工作10至29年（OR =1.62，CI =1.14 - 2.30）。
我们的分析表明，背痛是小规模经营或家庭农场农民中的一个职业健康问题，并且背痛对男性和女性的影响有所不同。抑郁、务农活动与背痛之间存在显著正相关这一发现值得进一步关注。
