# Prevalence and Exposure to Ergonomic Risk Factors among Crop Farmers in Nigeria
###### Abstract  
This study examined the prevalence and exposure to ergonomic risks factors among crop farmers in selected states in Nigeria. We used cross-sectional data to provide this evidence. Data were collected with the aid of a standardized questionnaire administered to farmers. A total of 480 smallholder cassava farmers selected across 24 farming communities in Kogi and Kwara states, Nigeria, were engaged in the study. Descriptive statistics and binary regression were used for analysis. About 96% of the respondents reported shoulder pain, 85% reported lower back pain, 82% reported upper back pain, 64% reported neck pain, and 53% reported elbow pain during farming operations. We found that the age of farmers (OR = 2.01) and daily duration of daily chemical spray (OR = 1.17) were risk factors, while previous training on the safe use and application of farm chemicals was found to be a protective factor (\(\alpha\) = 0.05). The study identified affordability of farm safety measures and poor access to relevant safety information as top constraints to farmers' adoption of safe farm practices. We concluded there is a high prevalence of ergonomic risks during cassava operations among respondents. A crop-specific co-designed ergonomic intervention targeted at Nigerian farmers to reduce exposure to ergonomic risks is recommended. ergonomic; crop farmers; health risks; Nigeria and prevalence +
Footnote †: journal: Medical  
climate change, with a tolerance to low soil fertility, resistance to drought conditions, pests, and diseases, and suitability to store its roots for long periods underground even after they mature [9]. Cassava production in Nigeria has the following major stages; land preparation, planting, weed and pest control, and harvesting [10]. Nigerian cassava farmers in particular, are exposed to various health risks factors along cassava production stages, including ergonomic risks factors. These farmers' exposure to ergonomic risks factors along the cassava production chain can be attributed to the fact that most production activities are carried out manually. This involves stages such as land preparation, weeding, chemical application, and harvesting. Most of these farmers in recent times, due to labour scarcity from rural-urban migration, often utilize mainly agrochemicals for weed control with little or no adherence to safety measures in chemical usage. This exposes cassava farmers to sprayer-borne ergonomic risks factors as they are often found mounting heavy sprayers on their backs for long hours and engaged in repetitive static positioning while applying farm chemicals. These farmers also engaged in long-range repetitive static positioning and forward bending while manually tilling/ridging, weeding, or even harvesting. In past studies, work-related musculoskeletal risk factors in agriculture have been related to repetitive static positioning, forward bending, and heavy lifting and carrying, and kneeling while carrying heavy loads, and vibration in agricultural workplaces [11; 12; 13; 14]. Poor work-posture from poor farm manual lifting and handling leads to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). These disorders have symptoms including pain at the lower and upper back, shoulders, ankles, knees, elbows, neck, wrist, and hand. Furthermore, chronic musculoskeletal injuries include tenosynovitis (inflammation of the wrist tendon), bursitis (inflammation of the shoulder joint fluid sac (bursa), and osteoarthritis of the knee (degeneration of the knee joint cartilage), identified to be very common among agricultural workers [11; 12; 13; 14]. Ergonomic health risks are so common among experienced farmers that it is often perceived as an inevitable consequence of farm labour [15]. There is still evidence of a gap in crop farmers' exposure to ergonomic risks factors and their prevalence, especially along the cassava production chain. As such, it is yet to receive the needed attention in Nigerian agriculture in terms of research, awareness programmes, training, and other relevant interventions.