A Review of Epidemiological Studies in Latin American Fishing

Musculoskeletal disorders and quality of life of artisanal fishermen from riverside localities in the Brazilian Amazon

BACKGROUND

Artisanal fishing is widely practiced in the Amazon region. However, the exhaustive labor demand impacts on the health of fishermen. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and the relationship with the quality of life (QoL) of artisanal fishermen.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out, evaluating male fishermen from two rural communities bordering Janauacá lake, Amazonas. Data were collected through interviews, using REDCap installed on smartphones. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was utilized to identify the body regions with the greatest pain complaints, and QoL was assessed using the mental and physical components of the SF-12. After the descriptive analysis, linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between the occurrence of MSDs and the components of QoL. The analyses were performed using Stata SE software, version 17.

RESULTS

In total, 115 fishermen were evaluated. MSDs were reported in all of the body regions assessed, with a higher prevalence in the lower (80.0%) and upper (43.5%) back, and knee (40.9%). Lower QoL scores were observed in emotional performance (20.7 ± 4.0), physical performance (25.1 ± 4.3), and mental health (29.0 ± 13.6). It was observed that individuals with any MSD presented worse QoL in the physical component (βadj=-5.0; 95%CI=-9.7; -0.3).

CONCLUSION

The findings showed a high prevalence of MSDs in the study population, as well as its impact on the QoL of artisanal fishermen. This highlights the need to reorganize health services to prevent the occurrence of MSDs, as well as for their treatment and rehabilitation.

Risk Assessment in Artisanal Fisheries in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Artisanal fisheries generally do not have injury prevention plans and safety or quality management systems on board, thus making them prone to more fatal and nonfatal injuries. The objective of the study is to systematically review and synthesize the literature to identify the risks of injuries (fatal and nonfatal) and health problems in artisanal fisheries in developing countries.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was carried out from December 2019 to March 2020. Articles were included with at least 1 outcome of interest (fatal injuries, nonfatal injuries, health problems, causal factors). In all, 18 articles on occupational safety and health aspects in artisanal fisheries from developing countries were kept for final analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 4 studies on fatal injuries, only 1 reported fatal incidence rates (14 per 1,000 person-years). Vessel disasters were the most common cause of fatal injuries, with 14.3%-81% drownings. The prevalence of nonfatal injuries was between 55% and 61%. The most common causes were falls on the deck or into the sea/river, blows from objects/tools, punctures and cuts by fishhooks/fish rays and fishing equipment, and animal attacks or bites. Health problems included eye, ear, cardiovascular (hypertension), respiratory (decompression sickness), dermatological, and musculoskeletal problems.

DISCUSSION

There is a serious gap of health and safety information in artisanal fishery, which is more extensive in developing countries. Epidemiological studies are needed with comparable incidence and prevalence rates. For adequate prevention and compliance with the UN sustainable goals, there is an urgent need to establish a health information system in the countries to register the relevant demographic and epidemiologic characteristics of the population.

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Self-Reported Pain in Artisanal Fishermen from a Traditional Community in Todos-os-Santos Bay, Bahia, Brazil

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) can be characterized from their occupational etiology and their occurrence; their chronicity generates negative repercussions for the health of workers, especially of artisanal fishing. To investigate the prevalence of generalized musculoskeletal disorders by body region and self-reported pain in a fishing population of northeastern Brazil, an epidemiological cross-sectional study was carried out in Santiago do Iguape, Bahia-Brazil, in 2017. The Brazilian version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), in addition to a questionnaire containing the socio-demographic and labor conditions were applied to a random stratified sample of 248 artisanal fisheries. There were 170 female shellfish gatherers and 78 fishermen, with a mean age of 36.7 years (SD = 10.5 years) and 43.3 years (SD = 11.8 years), respectively. The beginning of the labor activity was initiated at approximately 11 years of age. The average weekly income varied from 17.64 USD to 29.10 USD. The prevalence of MSD independent of occupation occurred in at least one body region in 93.5% and the presence of musculoskeletal pain/discomfort over the last seven days in 95.2% of the fishing workers. The highest prevalence of MSD was found in shellfish gatherers in: lower back (86.4%), wrist and hand (73.5%), and upper back (66.8%). In relation to the presence of pain in the last year, the frequency of pain was greater in the fishermen compared to the shellfish gatherers. The generalized severity of the MSD in 93.5% of this community of fishermen is evident, with emphasis in the following regions: lower back, wrist and hand and upper back in both groups, with occurrence of pain in more than one body region at the same time.