Study Protocol:A Randomised Controlled Trial on Effectiveness of a Worksite Health Intervention on Common Musculoskeletal Problems and Work-Related Quality of Life (WRQoL) among Female Workers in the Garment Manufacturing Sectors

Garmenting is one of the many labour intensive sector that provides gateway for developing countries in entering into the global market. Southern production centres employ more than 80% women as part of their workforce. Working for a long period of time without rest, absence of personal protective equipment and inadequate provision of ergonomic facilities at workplace leads to discomfort and fatigue.

Method and Method: 150 female workers with common musculoskeletal problems and working at the selected garment manufacturing factories and fulfilling the selection criteria will be randomly assigned to experimental and control group. The work site health intervention will be provided to experimental group, which involves 3 sessions for a week namely orientation to body mechanics, demonstration on neck and lower back exercise and nutritional education. After the demonstration, the female worker will be instructed to perform the exercise, 5 times in a week for 2 week in the workplace and thereafter for at least 3 times in a week for a month in the home. The outcome will be assessed at end of the 2^nd week and 5^th week. The control group who will not receive any intervention. The data will be analysed by frequency, percentage distribution, mean and standard deviation. Chi-square test and independent t-test will be used to assess the difference in various parameters.

Discussion: The result of the study may help to guide the garment workers to initiate the simple intervention in the worksite and would also reduce the occurrence of the common musculoskeletal problems.