prevalence and impact of work-related musculoskeletal disorders on job performance of call center operators in nigeria

background: work-related musculoskeletal disorders (wmsds) have been documented among various occupational groups in nigeria. however, there is limited data on the prevalence of wmsds among call center operators (ccos). objective: to determine the prevalence of wmsds among ccos in nigeria and to explore the extent to which these discomforts impact the daily work activities of the respondents. methods: 374 respondents who were randomly selected from 4 telecommunication companies in lagos state, nigeria, participated in this study. they were asked to complete a pre-tested questionnaire designed to capture the prevalence, impact and associated risk factors of wmsds among ccos. results: 42% and 65.2% of respondents experienced at least one wmsds in the past 7 days, and 12 months, respectively. women and ccos who received calls with hand-held phones rather than headsets reported more discomforts during both 7 days and 12 months periods. neck, shoulder, upper back, and lower back were the most affected areas during past 7 days and 12 months. discomforts in the neck, low back, and knees prevented most of the respondents from performing their daily work. conclusion: wmsds have a serious impact on the daily job activities of the ccos in nigeria.