ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN AND HOUSEHOLD ACTIVITIES AMONG HOUSEWIVES

Background: Musculoskeletal pain is a common health issue that can be acute or chronic, affecting bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. Housewives, as integral contributors to household functioning, often engage in repetitive, physically demanding tasks that predispose them to musculoskeletal pain. Despite their significant role, limited research has been conducted to explore the impact of prolonged household activities on musculoskeletal health, particularly in regions like Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Understanding this relationship is essential to inform preventive strategies and improve their quality of life. Objective: The study aimed to investigate the association between musculoskeletal pain and household activities among housewives, focusing on its prevalence, affected anatomical sites, and relationship with the duration of household tasks. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 384 housewives from Bahawalpur City over three months, from December 2022 to February 2023. Data collection utilized the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and a self-structured questionnaire. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling to include housewives actively engaged in household activities. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25. Variables such as household tasks, pain intensity, and time spent on activities were examined to determine correlations and statistical significance. Results: The study revealed that cooking (90.4%), dishwashing (78.1%), chopping (68.2%), sweeping (61.2%), and washing clothes (66.4%) were the most frequently reported household activities. Pain predominantly affected the low back (62.2%), shoulder (52.6%), and neck (45.1%). Pain intensity assessment showed that 52.9% of participants experienced moderate pain, 30.2% reported mild pain, and 16.9% suffered severe pain. Time spent on household activities showed a significant correlation with pain severity, with prolonged working hours (>8 hours) being associated with severe pain (p=0.00). Conclusion: The study concluded that musculoskeletal pain is significantly associated with prolonged household activities among housewives, with the low back, shoulder, and neck being the most commonly affected regions. These findings underscore the need for ergonomic interventions and preventive measures to reduce the burden of musculoskeletal disorders in this population.