Artisanal fisherwomen/shellfish gatherers: analyzing the impact of upper limb functioning and disability on health-related quality of life

• Published in: Ciência & saude coletiva Vol. 22; no. 11; pp. 3635 - 3644
• Main Authors: Müller, Juliana dos Santos, Falcão, Ila Rocha, Couto, Maria Carolina Barreto Moreira, Viana, Wendel da Silva, Alves, Ivone Batista, Viola, Denise Nunes, Woods, Courtney Georgette, Rêgo, Rita de Cássia Franco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: ABRASCO - Associação Brasileira de Saúde Coletiva 01.11.2017
• Subjects: PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH; Pescadores artesanais/marisqueiras; Health-related quality of life; Qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde; Funcionalidade e incapacidade de membros superiores; Upper limb functioning and disability; Artisanal fisher-women/shellfish gatherers; DASH; SF-36
• ISSN: 1678-4561
• DOI: 10.1590/1413-812320172211.13392016

Abstract The aim is to analyze upper limb functioning and disability, and its association with health-related quality of life among artisanal fisherwomen from Bahia, Brazil. Cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted with a sample of 209 fisherwomen. Structured questionnaires were used for socio-demographic and comorbidity information, as well as the instruments Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) and Short-Form Healthy Survey (SF-36) respectively, to evaluate the upper limbs and health-related quality of life. The results demonstrated that the presence of musculoskeletal disorders in the upper limbs directly affects the values of the DASH instrument and the SF-36v01 questionnaire scores, while also generating a negative correlation between the DASH and SF-36v01. The varying functioning abilities, pain and social aspects negatively affect upper limb function, and the daily activities and work of fisherwomen. The presence of chronic disease and the absence of intervention and rehabilitation for these professionals, that could produces, in a long-term, cases of disability.