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Musculoskeletal symptoms and associated risk factors among African hair braiders.
J Occup Environ Hyg. 2016; 13(6):434-41.JO

Abstract

African hair braiders are potentially subject to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) because they perform repetitive hand motions for many hours a day together with prolonged standing and/or prolonged sitting. A complete enumeration of African hair braiders was attempted in Oklahoma City (OKC) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW). Braiders were identified through the channels they typically use to offer services to clients. Potential risk factors and symptoms of WMSDs were assessed using an oral interview. Participation rates were 95% (18/19) in OKC and 83% (83/101) in DFW. More than 75% of braiders reported discomfort in the fingers, wrist/hand, upper back, and lower back. In multivariate analysis, years worked as a braider but not age was a significant risk factor (p < 0.005) for reported pain in the wrist/hand, time spent sitting during the work day was found to be a significant predictor (p < 0.05) of upper back pain and lower back pain, and time spent sitting and time spent standing during the work day were both significant predictors (p < 0.05) of shoulder pain. Braiders in OKC, where licensing requirements were stricter, were significantly more likely than braiders in DFW to work at home (67% vs. 4%, p < 0.001) and to report pain in the lower leg (p < 0.005) and ankle/foot (p < 0.05). The close-knit nature of the African hair braiding community makes it an appealing candidate for community-based participatory research aimed at further elucidating occupational health concerns and reducing risk.

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Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Sy O
a Department of Occupational and Environmental Health , College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center , Oklahoma City , Oklahama.
Phillips ML
a Department of Occupational and Environmental Health , College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center , Oklahoma City , Oklahama.

MeSH

AdultBlack or African AmericanBack InjuriesCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHairHand InjuriesHumansMaleMiddle AgedMusculoskeletal DiseasesOccupational DiseasesOklahomaPrevalenceRisk FactorsSurveys and QuestionnairesTexas

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

26771155

Citation

Sy, Oumy, and Margaret L. Phillips. "Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Associated Risk Factors Among African Hair Braiders." Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, vol. 13, no. 6, 2016, pp. 434-41.
Sy O, Phillips ML. Musculoskeletal symptoms and associated risk factors among African hair braiders. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2016;13(6):434-41.
Sy, O., & Phillips, M. L. (2016). Musculoskeletal symptoms and associated risk factors among African hair braiders. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 13(6), 434-41. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2015.1130226
Sy O, Phillips ML. Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Associated Risk Factors Among African Hair Braiders. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2016;13(6):434-41. PubMed PMID: 26771155.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Musculoskeletal symptoms and associated risk factors among African hair braiders. AU - Sy,Oumy, AU - Phillips,Margaret L, PY - 2016/1/16/entrez PY - 2016/1/16/pubmed PY - 2016/9/17/medline KW - Ergonomics KW - hairdressers KW - immigrant workers KW - symptom survey SP - 434 EP - 41 JF - Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene JO - J Occup Environ Hyg VL - 13 IS - 6 N2 - African hair braiders are potentially subject to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) because they perform repetitive hand motions for many hours a day together with prolonged standing and/or prolonged sitting. A complete enumeration of African hair braiders was attempted in Oklahoma City (OKC) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW). Braiders were identified through the channels they typically use to offer services to clients. Potential risk factors and symptoms of WMSDs were assessed using an oral interview. Participation rates were 95% (18/19) in OKC and 83% (83/101) in DFW. More than 75% of braiders reported discomfort in the fingers, wrist/hand, upper back, and lower back. In multivariate analysis, years worked as a braider but not age was a significant risk factor (p < 0.005) for reported pain in the wrist/hand, time spent sitting during the work day was found to be a significant predictor (p < 0.05) of upper back pain and lower back pain, and time spent sitting and time spent standing during the work day were both significant predictors (p < 0.05) of shoulder pain. Braiders in OKC, where licensing requirements were stricter, were significantly more likely than braiders in DFW to work at home (67% vs. 4%, p < 0.001) and to report pain in the lower leg (p < 0.005) and ankle/foot (p < 0.05). The close-knit nature of the African hair braiding community makes it an appealing candidate for community-based participatory research aimed at further elucidating occupational health concerns and reducing risk. SN - 1545-9632 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/26771155/Musculoskeletal_symptoms_and_associated_risk_factors_among_African_hair_braiders_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -