Sociodemographic and labor conditions and the presence of musculoskeletal symptoms in workers in a market in a Colombian municipality

INTRODUCTION: Although informal employment is increasing, there is still little evidence of musculoskeletal symptoms in workers with precarious jobs in marketplaces and of how these symptoms are related to their labor conditions and risks. OBJECTIVE: To identify sociodemographic and labor conditions and ergonomic risks associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in workers from a marketplace in a Colombian municipality in 2017. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of a 2017 census of 194 workers. A survey was applied, and labor and environmental records were collected. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed, with statistical tests with 95% confidence level. RESULTS: Women (56.7%) and workers older than 30 years (75.4%) predominated; 90.7% of participants worked 8 hours a day or more; 52.8% worked from 1 to 5 days a week; and 33.9% had been working in the profession for > 20 years. Moreover, 86.6% had semi-stationary sales position; 43.8% were overweight, and 18.8% obese. Also, 60.6% presented with some type of musculoskeletal symptom, the most prevalent of which was joint pain (37.7%). Selling meat (PR(A) = 2.36), merchandise/pots (PR(A) = 1.40), harvest/perishable products (PR(A) = 1.26), and working from 8 to 11 hours a day (PR(A) = 1.76) explained higher prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. Conversely, moving (PA(A) = 0.5) and lifting (PR(A) = 0.75) heavy objects explained lower prevalence of these symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Greater musculoskeletal symptoms were related to older age, lower schooling, fewer days of work, working from 8 to 11 hours, and selling meat, merchandise/pots, and harvest/perishable products. These conditions, once identified, will facilitate promotion and prevention actions to improve the living and health conditions of marketplace workers.