Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Heavy Load Carrying and Adverse Reproductive Health Among Women in Tanzania and Nepal: A Comparative Study

Version 1 : Received: 19 November 2020 / Approved: 23 November 2020 / Online: 23 November 2020 (09:00:53 CET)
Version 2 : Received: 7 January 2021 / Approved: 8 January 2021 / Online: 8 January 2021 (11:34:54 CET)

How to cite: Koyuncu, A.; Kadota, J.L.; Mnyippembe, A.; Njau, P.F.; Sijali, T.R.; McCoy, S.I.; Bates, M.N.; Harris-Adamson, C.; Prata, N. Heavy Load Carrying and Adverse Reproductive Health Among Women in Tanzania and Nepal: A Comparative Study. Preprints 2020, 2020110565. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202011.0565.v1 Koyuncu, A.; Kadota, J.L.; Mnyippembe, A.; Njau, P.F.; Sijali, T.R.; McCoy, S.I.; Bates, M.N.; Harris-Adamson, C.; Prata, N. Heavy Load Carrying and Adverse Reproductive Health Among Women in Tanzania and Nepal: A Comparative Study. Preprints 2020, 2020110565. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202011.0565.v1

Abstract

Heavy load carrying of water, firewood, and sand/stones is a ubiquitous activity for women living in developing countries. Although the intra-abdominal pressure associated with heavy load carrying is hypothesized to increase the risk of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) among women, relevant epidemiologic data are lacking. We conducted a comparative study involving two exploratory cross-sectional studies among convenience samples of women carrying heavy loads, with different characteristics: (1) as part of their activities for daily living, in Shinyanga region, Tanzania; and (2) working as sand miners in Pokhara, Nepal. Women were categorized has having “low” or “high” load-carrying exposures based on the measured weights of the loads being carried at the time of the survey, as well as on self-reported duration and frequency of load carrying. A summary score for reproductive health discomfort suggestive of POP was generated using questions from the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory (POPDI-6). Women with higher load carrying exposures had on average higher reproductive health discomfort scores in both Tanzania (adjusted prevalence difference (PDa)=3.7; 95% CI: -3.8-11.3; p=0.33) and Nepal (PDa=9.3; 95% CI: -4.9-23.6; p=0.18). We identified trends suggestive of an association between increasing heavy load carrying exposures and symptoms of reproductive health discomfort. Our findings underscore the need for larger epidemiologic studies of the potential adverse reproductive health effects of heavy load carrying activities on women in developing countries.

Keywords

pelvic organ prolapse (POP); uterine prolapse; heavy load carrying

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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