Author/Authors :
Jalali Maryam نويسنده Regional Knowledge Hub for HIV/AIDS Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran , FEYZI VAFA نويسنده Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran FEYZI VAFA , Daneshvar Somayeh نويسنده Department of Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, IR Iran , Jafari Roodbandi Akram Sadat نويسنده Ph.D. by Research Student, Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , Hajizadeh Leila نويسنده Occupational Health Department, Student Research Committee, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran , Asghari Mitra نويسنده Occupational Health Department, Student Research Committee, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran
Abstract :
[Background]Heavy school bags increase students’ musculoskeletal disorders. According to instructions, weight of school bags should not exceed 10% of students’ body weight. This study aimed at investigating the ratio of school bags weight to students’ body weight and evaluating the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders.[Methods]In this cross-sectional study, 723 students were selected from six elementary schools in Kerman. Such information as the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and demographic characteristics were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire.[Results]The highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was related to shoulders, neck, and waist. Indeed, weight of 50.1% of students’ bags was over 10% of their body weight. The results showed a significant relationship between the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and school bags’ weight to students’ weight ratio (P = 0.03). Additionally, such disorders were significantly more frequent among students of higher grades.[Conclusions]This study revealed a significant relationship between school bags’ weight and musculoskeletal disorders.
