Affiliations: Department of Industrial Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Indonesia
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Ari Widyanti, Department of Industrial Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Labtek III Ganesa 10 Bandung, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat 40132, Indonesia. Tel.: +62 22 2501824; E-mail: widyanti@mail.ti.itb.ac.id.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Mothering and caring for children have been associated with a decrease in mothers’ wellbeing. Limited research has been conducted from the ergonomics perspective of mothering and caring for children due to the belief that being a mother is not considered an occupation. OBJECTIVE:To observe the ergonomics of mothering and caring for children (ergoMOMics) among Indonesian mothers and the prevalence of related musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS). PARTICIPANTS:Five hundred and twenty-five Indonesian mothers. METHOD:The prevalence of MSS was assessed using Nordic Body Map questionnaire. An adapted questionnaire on mothering and child care activities and their consequences were also used. RESULTS:Most Indonesian mothers reported some negative consequences of mothering and child care activities, including MSS in the back (50%), neck (26%), and upper shoulder (43%). Demographic data that significantly influences MSS includes the domicile category and help from others. Mothers in large cities reported higher MSS than those residing in small- to medium-sized cities (t (523) = 7.43, ρ< 0.01). The help of family members (commonly children’s grandparents) significantly increased reported MSS (F(2, 524) = 3.57, ρ= 0.02). A specific child care activity that influences MSS is the lifting for children. CONCLUSIONS:Mothering and child care are very demanding activities that can result in MSS. Therefore, steps must be taken to prevent and overcome these symptoms.
Keywords: Mothers’ wellbeing, demanding activities, ergonomic perspective, Nordic
Body Map
