Abstract
Introduction: Fishing is a physically demanding occupation involving repetitive movements, heavy lifting, prolonged standing, and unstable working conditions, predisposing workers to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Community-based evidence from traditional fishing populations in Tamil Nadu is limited.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 125 fishermen aged ≥18 years engaged in fishing for at least one year. Participants were selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire, and musculoskeletal symptoms were assessed using the Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were computed, and associations were analyzed using the chi-squared test with statistical significance set at p≤0.05.
Results: The majority of participants were male (76.8%) and aged ≥40 years (60%), with most having >10 years of fishing experience (80.8%) and working >8 hours per day (68.8%). Musculoskeletal pain was highly prevalent, particularly in the lower back (83.2%), shoulders (73.6%), and knees (70.4%) over the past 12 months. Longer working hours (>8 hours/day) and greater duration of fishing (>10 years) were significantly associated with increased prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, especially in the lower back and knees. Male participants also reported significantly higher prevalence of shoulder and lower back pain.
Conclusion: Musculoskeletal disorders are highly prevalent among fishermen in Pulicat, predominantly affecting the lower back, shoulders, and knees. Prolonged working hours and extended occupational exposure are key associated factors. These findings highlight the need for targeted ergonomic interventions, structured occupational health education, and inclusion of fisherfolk in occupational health and social protection programs to mitigate the burden of musculoskeletal morbidity and improve overall work capacity.
Keywords: ergonomic, fishing community, nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire, occupational health hazard, work-related musculoskeletal morbidity
Introduction
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are painful conditions that occur as a result of repetitive strain and cumulative injury to muscles, joints, tendons, nerves, and other soft tissues in the body. Musculoskeletal disorders are significant in that they affect the physical well-being and productivity of workers and result in considerable economic costs at both individual and societal levels [1].
Musculoskeletal disorders are among the top causes of long-term disability and morbidity worldwide. They are debilitating in nature and result in decreased functional ability, poor quality of life, and decreased work efficiency in affected individuals [2]. Musculoskeletal disorders are more common in low- and middle-income countries, where most workers are engaged in informal and labor-intensive occupations and lack access to healthcare services [3-5].
Fishing is identified as a high-risk occupation for the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders owing to repetitive movements, heavy manual handling, prolonged postures, and exposure to unfavorable environmental conditions. Activities such as hauling fishing nets, heavy lifting, and prolonged standing and balancing on unstable fishing vessels impose continuous biomechanical stresses on fisherfolk, who are at risk of musculoskeletal disorders, especially in the lower back, shoulder, neck, and lower limb regions [6-8].
In India, the fisheries sector is a significant contributor to the workforce and the national economy, with a substantial part of the workforce engaged in traditional, non-mechanized fishing activities. However, occupational health issues faced by fisherfolk have received little research and attention. A review of the existing literature identified that there is little or no information available about the musculoskeletal morbidity among fisherfolk in Tamil Nadu, especially in the coastal fishing population around Pulicat.
Pulicat, a fishing village on the northern coastline of Tamil Nadu, India, harbors a substantial workforce of traditional fishermen, with the majority of the workforce engaged in physically demanding manual fishing activities. Despite the occupational hazards associated with this traditional fishing activity, there is little or no available data on the musculoskeletal health of this workforce. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal morbidity among fisherfolk in Pulicat, Tamil Nadu, to evaluate the distribution of musculoskeletal symptoms across different body regions, and to examine associations between musculoskeletal morbidity and sociodemographic and occupational factors.
Materials and methods
This community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Pulicat in the Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu, India. The study population comprised both male and female aged 18 years and above who were actively involved in fishing or fishing-related occupations for a minimum duration of 12 months. Individuals with congenital musculoskeletal deformities and a history of recent trauma or surgery in the past six months or those who did not consent to participate were excluded.
The sample size was calculated using the formula 
. Assuming a 92.4% prevalence of musculoskeletal morbidity with a 5% absolute precision, the minimum required sample size was estimated as 113 [9]. After incorporating a 10% allowance for non-response, the final sample size was calculated to be 125. The sampling frame was prepared using the fishermen's cooperative society registers and supplemented by local community records to ensure the comprehensive coverage of eligible participants in the study area.
From this defined sampling frame, study participants were selected using simple random sampling by the lottery method. Data collection was performed through face-to-face interviews by the principal investigator using a pretested structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered in the local language, Tamil, to ensure better comprehension among participants.
The Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to obtain responses regarding musculoskeletal morbidity that the fisherman had experienced during the last one year. The questionnaire is a validated and reliable tool for assessing musculoskeletal pain in each of the body parts [10]. It has a sensitivity ranging between 66% and 92% and a specificity between 71% and 88% [11]. The questionnaire has a content validity index of 87.2%, a Cronbach's alpha of 0.965-0.966, and a corrected item-total correlation value above 0.6 [12]. One response, whether "Yes" or "No", was required for every question depicting each body part separately.
Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee of Sri Venkateswaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Institute (IEC reference number: 001/12/2025/IEC/SVMCHRI) prior to the commencement of the study, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Collected data were entered into Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, United States) and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the variables, and associations between musculoskeletal morbidity and selected sociodemographic and occupational factors were analyzed using the chi-squared test with statistical significance set at p≤0.05.
Results
A total of 125 fishermen participated in the study. As shown in Table 1, the largest proportion belonged to the 40-49-year age group (38, 30.4%), followed by those aged ≥50 years (37, 29.6%). Males constituted 96 (76.8%) of the participants. Most were married (112, 89.6%). Educational attainment was generally low, with 39 (31.2%) being illiterate and 44 (35.2%) being educated up to the primary level. According to the Modified BG Prasad classification, the majority were in Class IV (44, 35.2%) and Class III (37, 29.6%).
Table 1. Sociodemographic characteristics of the study participants (n=125).
| Variable | Category | Frequency (n) | Percentage (%) |
| Age (years) | 18-29 | 18 | 14.4 |
| 30-39 | 32 | 25.6 | |
| 40-49 | 38 | 30.4 | |
| ≥50 | 37 | 29.6 | |
| Gender | Male | 96 | 76.8 |
| Female | 29 | 23.2 | |
| Marital status | Married | 112 | 89.6 |
| Unmarried | 13 | 10.4 | |
| Education | Illiterate | 39 | 31.2 |
| Primary | 44 | 35.2 | |
| Secondary | 26 | 20.8 | |
| Higher secondary | 9 | 7.2 | |
| Diploma | 4 | 3.2 | |
| Graduate | 3 | 2.4 | |
| Socioeconomic class (Modified BG Prasad) | Class I | 6 | 4.8 |
| Class II | 18 | 14.4 | |
| Class III | 37 | 29.6 | |
| Class IV | 44 | 35.2 | |
| Class V | 20 | 16 |
The occupational characteristics are detailed in Table 2. A large proportion had more than 10 years of fishing experience (101, 80.8%). Prolonged working hours were common, with 86 (68.8%) working more than eight hours daily. The most frequently reported tasks were net handling (91, 72.8%) and lifting heavy loads (74, 59.2%), followed by boat rowing/navigation (68, 54.4%) and fish sorting/cleaning (57, 45.6%).
Table 2. Occupational profile and work-related characteristics of the study participants (n=125).
*Multiple responses were allowed; therefore, percentages may exceed 100%.
| Variable | Category | Frequency (n) | Percentage (%) |
| Years of fishing experience | <10 years | 24 | 19.2 |
| >10 years | 101 | 80.8 | |
| Average working hours/day | ≤8 hours | 39 | 31.2 |
| >8 hours | 86 | 68.8 | |
| Nature of work* | Net handling | 91 | 72.8 |
| Boat rowing/navigation | 68 | 54.4 | |
| Fish sorting/cleaning | 57 | 45.6 | |
| Lifting heavy loads | 74 | 59.2 |
The prevalence of musculoskeletal morbidity is presented in Table 3. During the preceding 12 months, lower back pain was the most frequently reported complaint (104, 83.2%), followed by shoulder pain (92, 73.6%), knee pain (88, 70.4%), and ankle/foot pain (73, 58.4%). Pain in the last seven days showed a comparable distribution, with lower back pain reported by 89 (71.2%), shoulder pain by 76 (60.8%), and knee pain by 74 (59.2%). Elbow and wrist/hand symptoms were less commonly reported.
Table 3. Prevalence of musculoskeletal morbidity among the study participants (n=125).
| Body parts | Pain during the last 12 months n (%) | Pain during the last 7 days n (%) | No pain n (%) |
| Neck | 38 (30.4) | 27 (21.6) | 87 (69.6) |
| Shoulder | 92 (73.6) | 76 (60.8) | 33 (26.4) |
| Elbow | 21 (16.8) | 18 (14.4) | 104 (83.2) |
| Wrists/hands | 28 (22.4) | 23 (18.4) | 97 (77.6) |
| Upper back | 44 (35.2) | 36 (28.8) | 81 (64.8) |
| Lower back | 104 (83.2) | 89 (71.2) | 21 (16.8) |
| Thighs/hips/buttocks | 33 (26.4) | 27 (21.6) | 92 (73.6) |
| Knees | 88 (70.4) | 74 (59.2) | 37 (29.6) |
| Ankles/feet | 73 (58.4) | 63 (50.4) | 52 (41.6) |
The association between gender and musculoskeletal pain is shown in Table 4. A significantly higher proportion of males reported shoulder pain (75, 78.1%) compared to females (17, 58.6%) (p=0.03). Similarly, lower back pain was more frequent among males (84, 87.5%) than females (20, 69%) (p=0.01). No statistically significant association was observed between gender and pain in other body regions.
Table 4. Association between gender and musculoskeletal pain among fishermen (n=125).
*p<0.05: significant (Pearson's chi-squared test)
| Body parts | Status | Male n (%) | Female n (%) | Chi-square | P-value |
| Neck | No pain | 66 (68.8) | 21 (72.4) | 0.14 | 0.71 |
| Pain | 30 (31.2) | 8 (27.6) | |||
| Shoulder | No pain | 21 (21.9) | 12 (41.4) | 4.36 | 0.03* |
| Pain | 75 (78.1) | 17 (58.6) | |||
| Elbow | No pain | 80 (83.3) | 24 (82.8) | 0.01 | 0.94 |
| Pain | 16 (16.7) | 5 (17.2) | |||
| Wrists/hands | No pain | 73 (76) | 24 (82.8) | 0.58 | 0.45 |
| Pain | 23 (24) | 5 (17.2) | |||
| Upper back | No pain | 58 (60.4) | 23 (79.3) | 3.49 | 0.062 |
| Pain | 38 (39.6) | 6 (20.7) | |||
| Lower back | No pain | 12 (12.5) | 9 (31) | 5.47 | 0.01* |
| Pain | 84 (87.5) | 20 (69) | |||
| Thighs/hips/buttocks | No pain | 68 (70.8) | 24 (82.8) | 1.63 | 0.20 |
| Pain | 28 (29.2) | 5 (17.2) | |||
| Knees | No pain | 26 (27.1) | 11 (37.9) | 1.26 | 0.26 |
| Pain | 70 (72.9) | 18 (62.1) | |||
| Ankles/feet | No pain | 38 (39.6) | 14 (48.3) | 0.69 | 0.41 |
| Pain | 58 (60.4) | 15 (51.7) |
As presented in Table 5, daily working hours demonstrated a significant relationship with musculoskeletal complaints. Participants working more than eight hours per day reported a higher prevalence of shoulder pain (68, 79.1%) (p=0.03), lower back pain (76, 88.4%) (p=0.02), and knee pain (67, 77.9%) (p<0.001). Associations for upper back and thigh/hip/buttock pain were of borderline significance, while elbow, wrist/hand, and ankle/foot pain were not significantly associated with working duration.
Table 5. Association between daily working hours and musculoskeletal pain among fishermen (n=125).
*p<0.05: significant (Pearson's chi-squared test)
| Body parts | Status | ≤8 hours n (%) | >8 hours n (%) | Chi-square | P-value |
| Neck | No pain | 16 (41) | 71 (82.6) | 21.87 | 0.00* |
| Pain | 23 (59) | 15 (17.4) | |||
| Shoulder | No pain | 15 (38.5) | 18 (20.9) | 4.24 | 0.03* |
| Pain | 24 (61.5) | 68 (79.1) | |||
| Elbow | No pain | 35 (89.7) | 69 (80.2) | 1.73 | 0.18 |
| Pain | 4 (10.3) | 17 (19.8) | |||
| Wrists/hands | No pain | 33 (84.6) | 64 (74.4) | 1.60 | 0.20 |
| Pain | 6 (15.4) | 22 (25.6) | |||
| Upper back | No pain | 30 (76.9) | 51 (59.3) | 3.65 | 0.05 |
| Pain | 9 (23.1) | 35 (40.7) | |||
| Lower back | No pain | 11 (28.2) | 10 (11.6) | 5.27 | 0.02* |
| Pain | 28 (71.8) | 76 (88.4) | |||
| Thighs/hips/buttocks | No pain | 33 (84.6) | 59 (68.6) | 3.53 | 0.05 |
| Pain | 6 (15.4) | 27 (31.4) | |||
| Knees | No pain | 18 (46.2) | 19 (22.1) | 7.45 | 0.00* |
| Pain | 21 (53.8) | 67 (77.9) | |||
| Ankles/feet | No pain | 20 (51.3) | 32 (37.2) | 2.18 | 0.13 |
| Pain | 19 (48.7) | 54 (62.8) |
The relationship between years of fishing experience and musculoskeletal pain is summarized in Table 6. Fishermen with more than 10 years of experience reported significantly higher lower back pain (88, 87.1%) compared to those with less experience (p=0.01). Knee pain was also more common among those with longer occupational exposure (76, 75.2%) (p=0.01). Although symptoms were generally more frequent in the experienced group across most anatomical regions, statistical significance was not observed for other body sites.
Table 6. Association between years of fishing experience and musculoskeletal pain among fishermen (n=125).
*p<0.05: significant (Pearson's chi-squared test)
| Body parts | Status | <10 years n (%) | >10 years n (%) | Chi-square | P-value |
| Neck | No pain | 15 (62.5) | 72 (71.3) | 0.70 | 0.40 |
| Pain | 9 (37.5) | 29 (28.7) | |||
| Shoulder | No pain | 9 (37.5) | 24 (23.8) | 1.88 | 0.16 |
| Pain | 15 (62.5) | 77 (76.2) | |||
| Elbow | No pain | 22 (91.7) | 82 (81.2) | 1.52 | 0.21 |
| Pain | 2 (8.3) | 19 (18.8) | |||
| Wrists/hands | No pain | 21 (87.5) | 76 (75.2) | 1.67 | 0.19 |
| Pain | 3 (12.5) | 25 (24.8) | |||
| Upper back | No pain | 18 (75) | 63 (62.4) | 1.35 | 0.24 |
| Pain | 6 (25) | 38 (37.6) | |||
| Lower back | No pain | 8 (33.3) | 13 (12.9) | 5.80 | 0.01* |
| Pain | 16 (66.7) | 88 (87.1) | |||
| Thighs/hips/buttocks | No pain | 19 (79.2) | 73 (72.3) | 0.47 | 0.49 |
| Pain | 5 (20.8) | 28 (27.7) | |||
| Knees | No pain | 12 (50) | 25 (24.8) | 5.93 | 0.01* |
| Pain | 12 (50) | 76 (75.2) | |||
| Ankles/feet | No pain | 13 (54.2) | 39 (38.6) | 1.93 | 0.16 |
| Pain | 11 (45.8) | 62 (61.4) |
Discussion
The present study has identified a high prevalence rate of musculoskeletal disorders among the fishermen population in Pulicat, thus emphasizing the high burden of health problems associated with fishing activities. The high rate of back pain, followed by shoulder, knee, and ankle or foot pain, is in accordance with the study findings on the musculoskeletal disorders observed in the fishing and fish processing population in various coastal areas of India and other countries [13,14]. The nature of the work, which involves frequent bending, lifting heavy objects, and standing, along with the exposure to unstable work environments, may lead to chronic pain, which is a major musculoskeletal disorder, because of the constant mechanical load on the musculoskeletal system [15].
The chronic nature of the musculoskeletal disorders, which is reflected by the high pain prevalence over the past 12 months and the recent seven-day period, thus points to the chronic nature of the musculoskeletal disorders observed in the fishermen population, which is in accordance with the study findings on the chronic nature of the musculoskeletal disorders observed in the fish processing population and the fisherwomen population, who are exposed to chronic stress with less recovery time [13,16]. The high rate of axial and lower limb pain observed in the study is in accordance with the study findings on the musculoskeletal disorders associated with the fishing activities, which may be attributed to the handling of the fishing nets and lifting heavy objects.
Gender-based analysis showed that there was a higher occurrence of shoulder pain and lower back pain in males. This may be attributed to task allocation in the fishing population. In the fishing population, men may be involved in tasks that require physical exertion, such as hauling the fishing nets, rowing the boats, and lifting fish from the nets. In contrast, women may be involved in tasks that require less physical exertion, such as fish processing. Studies have shown that women involved in fish processing have varying anatomical manifestations of musculoskeletal disorders. This suggests that task-specific exposure to musculoskeletal load rather than gender per se determines the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders [16,17].
A significant relationship was observed between daily working hours and musculoskeletal pain in the neck, shoulder, lower back, and knee regions. Longer working hours contribute to fatigue because the muscles have less opportunity to rest. The relationship between working hours and musculoskeletal pain has been observed in the fish processing population in India as well as internationally.
Years of fishing experience were found to be significantly associated with increased incidence of low back and knee pain, which indicates the cumulative effect of occupational exposure. The chronic effect of repetitive loading, degenerative changes, and the effect of aging on musculoskeletal resilience and the increased susceptibility of the workforce with longer fishing experience can be attributed to the increased risk among the fishing workforce with longer fishing experience. Similar findings have been reported among experienced fishing workers and fisherwomen, where the effect of longer fishing experience was found to be one of the major determinants for musculoskeletal disorders [13,18].
Limitations
Although this study provides valuable community-based insights into musculoskeletal morbidity among fisherfolk, there are certain limitations. The use of self-reported data from the Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire is subject to recall bias, particularly for symptoms over the past 12 months, and may also be influenced by social desirability bias and occupational stigma. The cross-sectional design precludes any causal inference. As the study was conducted in a single coastal community, the findings may have limited generalizability to other fishing populations.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among fishermen in Pulicat, with the lower back, shoulders, and knees being the most commonly affected regions. The persistence of these conditions reflects the continuous physical strain associated with fishing activities. These findings underscore the need for targeted preventive measures, including ergonomic modifications of fishing practices, provision of adequate rest periods, and health education on safe work techniques. At the policy level, integration of occupational health services for fisherfolk, periodic screening for musculoskeletal disorders, and inclusion under social security and welfare schemes are essential to reduce disability and improve overall health outcomes.
Disclosures
Human subjects: Informed consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Institutional Ethics Committee of Sri Venkateswaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Institute issued approval 001/12/2025/IEC/SVMCHRI.
Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue.
Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following:
Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work.
Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work.
Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.
Author Contributions
Concept and design: Stalin R, Ganesh Shanmugasundaram Anusuya, Gudluru Uday Sai
Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: Stalin R, Gudluru Uday Sai
Drafting of the manuscript: Stalin R, Ganesh Shanmugasundaram Anusuya, Gudluru Uday Sai
Critical review of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Stalin R, Ganesh Shanmugasundaram Anusuya, Gudluru Uday Sai
Supervision: Stalin R, Ganesh Shanmugasundaram Anusuya, Gudluru Uday Sai
References
- 1.Prevalence and predictors of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among weavers of Varanasi, India: a cross-sectional study. Siddiqui LA, Banerjee A, Chokhandre P, Unisa S. Clin Epidemiol Glob Health. 2021;12:100918. [Google Scholar]
- 2.Occupational factors related to shoulder pain and disability. Pope DP, Croft PR, Pritchard CM, Silman AJ, Macfarlane GJ. Occup Environ Med. 1997;54:316–321. doi: 10.1136/oem.54.5.316. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3.Occupational health problems of the handloom workers: a cross sectional study of Sualkuchi, Assam, Northeast India. Koiri P. Clin Epidemiol Glob Health. 2020;8:1264–1271. [Google Scholar]
- 4.The epidemiology of low back pain. Hoy D, Brooks P, Blyth F, Buchbinder R. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2010;24:769–781. doi: 10.1016/j.berh.2010.10.002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 5.Association between physical work demands and work ability in workers with musculoskeletal pain: cross-sectional study. Skovlund SV, Bláfoss R, Sundstrup E, Andersen LL. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2020;21:166. doi: 10.1186/s12891-020-03191-8. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 6.Common musculoskeletal problem experienced by fishing industry workers. Dabholkar TA, Nakhawa P, Yardi S. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25568597/ Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2014;18:48–51. doi: 10.4103/0019-5278.146888. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 7.Harmful postures and musculoskeletal symptoms among fish trimmers of a fish processing factory in Ghana: a preliminary investigation. Quansah R. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2005;11:181–190. doi: 10.1080/10803548.2005.11076637. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 8.Factors associated with self-estimated work ability and musculoskeletal symptoms among male and female workers in cooled food-processing facilities. Sormunen E, Remes J, Hassi J, Pienimäki T, Rintamäki H. Ind Health. 2009;47:271–282. doi: 10.2486/indhealth.47.271. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 9.Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and their association with ergonomic physical risk factors among women working in tea gardens of Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India. Chakraborty S, Bhattacherjee S, Mukherjee A, Dasgupta S. Int J Occup Saf Health. 2021;11:31–39. [Google Scholar]
- 10.Standardised Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Kuorinka I, Jonsson B, Kilbom A, Vinterberg H, Biering-Sørensen F, Andersson G, Jørgensen K. Appl Ergon. 1987;18:233–237. doi: 10.1016/0003-6870(87)90010-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 11.An assessment of neck and upper extremity disorders by questionnaire and clinical examination. Ohlsson K, Attewell RG, Johnsson B, Ahlm A, Skerfving S. Ergonomics. 1994;37:891–897. doi: 10.1080/00140139408963698. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 12.Validity and reliability test of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire with formal and informal sector workers. Chairani A. Proc Int Conf Public Health. 2020;5:100–106. [Google Scholar]
- 13.A study on prevalence of musculoskeletal and work related risk factors among fish processing industry workers in Mangalore: a community based survey. Nayak P, Krishnan S, Menon VV, Kumar V. Indian J Physiother Occup Ther. 2020;14:141–148. [Google Scholar]
- 14.Musculoskeletal disorders of fishermen in the artisanal and coastal sector. Laraqui O, Roland-Lévy C, Ghailan T, El Bouri H, Manar N, Deschamps F, Laraqui CE. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38647054/ Int Marit Health. 2024;75:1–9. doi: 10.5603/imh.98470. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 15.Study to estimate the prevalence of risk factors of chronic disease among a fishing community in Tamil Nadu. Seenivasan P, Caroline Priya K, Siddharth R, et al. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2018;5:1822–1827. [Google Scholar]
- 16.Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder in fisherwomen by extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Saroj R, Shivdikar R. Int J Res Rev. 2023;10:52–58. [Google Scholar]
- 17.Risk factors and musculoskeletal disorders among women workers performing fish processing. Nag A, Vyas H, Shah P, Nag PK. Am J Ind Med. 2012;55:833–843. doi: 10.1002/ajim.22075. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 18.A cross-sectional study to assess the occupational health hazards among fisherwomen in a metropolitan city. Hadaye RS, Dey A. J Family Med Prim Care. 2024;13:1271–1277. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1325_23. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]