Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Pain Among Road Construction Workers in Port Harcourt

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) represent a significant occupational health challenge in the construction industry, leading to substantial productivity losses. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalent risk factors associated with the development of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) among 285 road construction workers in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Data were collected using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire across seven (7) construction sites. The overall 12-month prevalence of MSP was 62.8%. Lower back pain was the most frequently reported (34%), followed by shoulder and upper back (6.3% each). Other affected areas included the knees (4.2%), hips (3.9%), wrists/hands (3.2%), ankles/feet (2.8%), and neck (2.5%). 17.2% of the respondents had mild pain, 17.2% had moderate pain, and 19.6% had severe pain, respectively. The Chi-square tests revealed a significant association between age (p<0.001), daily work duration (p<0.001), working posture (p=0.024), and job task (p=0.006) with the occurrence of musculoskeletal pain among construction workers (p < 0.05). The majority of workers experiencing pain (57.9%) were treated with medication, while only a small portion (6%) received physiotherapy. The study concluded that musculoskeletal pain is highly prevalent among road construction workers in Port Harcourt.