Socioeconomic Disparity and Musculoskeletal Disorders: The National Socioeconomics Survey, 2010 and 2012

• Main Authors: Wanpen Puphapun, Wongsa Laohasiriwong, Wilaiphorn Thinkhamrop, Nattapong Puttanapong, Kritkantorn Suwannaphant
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2019-12-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
• Subjects: disability; education on health; multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression; socioeconomic status; thailand
• Online Access: https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/13334/42207_PD(V-1_KM_V2_RV_OM)_PF1_CE(AJ_SL)_PFA(KM)_PN(SL).pdf

Introduction: Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) is one of the leading public health problems in Thailand especially among the working age and elderly population. MSDs is the disease that can be affected by many factors such as working environment, abnormal body structure and age related degenerative conditions. Aim: To explore the prevalence and association between Socioeconomic Status factors (SES) and MSDs in Thai population. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed by using the data from the National Socioeconomics Survey conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO) in 2010 and 2012. A total of 17,040 and 16,905 participants who met the inclusion criteria of this study were recruited in 2010 and 2012 respectively. The required information was collected by face-toface interview with structured questionnaires. Multilevel mixedeffects logistic regression analysis was performed to determine potential socioeconomic factors associated with MSDs. Results: The prevalence of MSDs in 2010 and 2012 was 3.90% (95%CI: 3.61 to 4.19) and 2.96% (95%CI: 2.70 to 3.21) respectively. The multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression observed that odds of having MSDs were significantly higher among those who had low education attainment (ORadj=1.52: 95% CI: 1.18 to 1.95), were agriculturist (ORadj=1.69; 95% CI: 1.32 to 2.18), aged 40 year old or greater (ORadj=9.10; 95% CI: 7.02 to 11.80) and were female (ORadj=1.22; 95%CI: 1.04 to 1.44). In addition, the factors that were associated with MSDs in 2012 data were respondents residing in the North region (ORadj=2.25; 95% CI: 1.36 to 3.70), were agriculturist (ORadj=1.72; 95% CI: 1.28 to 2.32), had low education attainment (ORadj=1.51; 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.99) and aged 40 year old or greater (ORadj=11.28; 95% CI: 7.96 to 15.98). Conclusion: The study indicated that socioeconomic status was associated with musculoskeletal disorders. Those who were female, agriculturalist and had low educational attainment were vulnerable to MSDs in Thai population.