Assessing musculoskeletal discomfort among head porters in open-air markets in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background Manual load-carrying remains common in developing countries and poses significant occupational health risks. However, integrated three-dimensional (frequency, severity, and interference)-based ergonomic assessment of the head porterage job is limited. Objective This study assesses the distribution of Musculoskeletal Discomfort (MSD) among head porters in selected open-air markets in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional survey was done among 100 head-porters in Bodija, Oja-Oba, and Challenge markets using stratified and purposive sampling. Data were collected via an adapted Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ) and analysed by descriptive statistics. CMDQ scores for frequency, severity, and work interference were multiplied to obtain composite CMDQ index for each body region, while percentage CMDQ index (%CMDQ) was calculated to rank affected body regions. Data were analysed using chi-square tests and Spearman's rank correlation at a significance level of 0.05. Results Most participants were females (78.0%), aged 30–55 years (71.0%), and worked more than six hours per day (79.0%). MSD was widely reported across multiple body regions, with the lower back being the most affected, followed by the left thigh, right thigh, neck, and knees, with %CMDQ of 8.8, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, and 7.2%, respectively. MSD frequently interfered with work performance and reduced job satisfaction. A weak, but statistically significant, positive correlation (r = 0.31, p < 0.05) was found between MSD severity and daily working hours. Conclusions The multidimensional approach provides a comparative empirical framework for prioritising MSD severity across body regions. The high ergonomic risk observed highlights urgent need for targeted interventions in the informal market environments.