1-s2.0-s0169814101000737-main
DESCRIPTION
ArticlesTRANSCRIPT
-
5/27/2018 1-s2.0-S0169814101000737-main
1/11
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 29 (2002) 331341
Anthropometric study of Algerian farmers
M. Mokdad*
Psychology Department, International Islamic University, Jalan Gombak, 53100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Received 7 June 2001; received in revised form 9 August 2001; accepted 17 November 2001
Abstract
An anthropometric study of Algerian date-palm farmers was carried out. Thirty-six body dimensions were measured.
Mean, variation measures, percentiles, 4 indices, and correlation coefficients between body dimensions were calculated.
Effects of age were studied. Data of Algerian farmers and farmers from both developed and developing countries are
compared. Body dimensions results were presented in one table so that they can easily be used by designers. It has been
found that both stature and weight correlated significantly with many body dimensions. In addition, age was found to
affect body height and weight. Moreover, it was found that stature and weight have increased with time. These days
farmers are taller and heavier than farmers of the 1960s. Algerian farmers are also taller and heavier than farmers of
many developing countries. However, when Algerians are compared with the farmers of developed countries, they are
shorter and lighter.
Relevance to industry
The physical dimensions of the workplace are very important because small changes can have a considerable impact
on worker health, safety, and productivity. Therefore, this study was completed to provide anthropometric data that
can be used to design or redesign agricultural machines, tools and equipment. Date-palm agriculture is still done
traditionally in most of the date-palm producing countries. The introduction of ergonomically designed technology will
improve the date-palm industry. r 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
Keywords: Anthropometry; Date-palm farmers; Ideal body weight; Secular change; Developing countries
1. Anthropometric study of Algerian farmers
One of the important principles of ergonomics is
that workplace dimensions should match the body
dimensions of the expected users. A good match
can be obtained if anthropometric data are
applied. Incorrect workplace design where anthro-
pometric data are ignored can cause psychological
discomfort, physical fatigue and could be harmfuland damaging in the long term. Therefore,
anthropometric data are an essential condition to
the design of safe, comfortable and effective
machines, tools and workplaces.
In the developed countries, where ergonomic
research and practice are widespread, structured
and highly developed researchers have been
collecting anthropometric data from different
segments of the populations for a long time. The
first systematic large-scale anthropometric studies*Corresponding author. Tel.: +603-2056-5111.
E-mail address: [email protected] (M. Mokdad).
0169-8141/02/$ - see front matter r 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
PII: S 0 1 6 9 - 8 1 4 1 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 0 7 3 - 7
-
5/27/2018 1-s2.0-S0169814101000737-main
2/11
were started in the 1940s. On the other hand, in
developing countries, where ergonomic thought as
well as applications are unstructured and limited,
anthropometric studies in general and anthropo-metric data of some segments of the population
such as women, children and disabled people are
very scarce if not available at all.
In Algeria, there are about 7 million farmers
(B23% of the whole Algerian population in 1998)
involved in date-palm culture either directly or
indirectly, of whom, B78% are in the private
sector and B22% in the government sector. The
anthropometric data of these farmers are needed
for various purposes. The first of which is the
design or redesign of agricultural equipment,
workplaces, tools and clothing, so that efficient
use with safety and comfort might be ensured. It is
estimated that B55% of agricultural equipment
and tools are imported and B45% are locally
made (Biskra Governorate Department of Agri-
culture, 1996). In addition, anthropometric data
are necessary to describe the physical character-
istics of the body of the Algerians. Anthropo-
metric data are also needed to allow for
comparisons with other populations to be made.
This study aims, therefore, to provide anthro-
pometric data which can be used in design orredesign, descriptions, comparisons, and evalua-
tion purposes.
2. Methods
2.1. Subjects
A sample of 514 male farmers engaged in field
activities was randomly chosen from both private
and government sectors and the four date-palmregions (Zeb, Souf, Touat and Hoggar). The
distribution of the subjects among both the
agricultural sector and the region can be seen in
Table 1. It can be seen that B44% of the sample
farmers were taken from Souf date-palm region
because it is a very large area with the largest
number of both farmers and date palms. The first
contact with the farmers of each region was
organized by the principal governorate depart-
ment of agriculture of the region.
2.2. Body dimensions
Thirty-six body dimensions were chosen because
it has been thought that they are useful for thedesign or redesign of agricultural equipment and
tools. These measurements were 14 in standing
position (6 heights, 1 breadth, 2 depths, 1 reach,
handgrip force, triceps and sub-scapular skinfold
thickness and weight) and 22 in sitting position (7
heights, 3 breadths, 5 lengths, 2 reaches, 3 hand
and 2 foot measurements). In addition, 4 other
anthropometric indices were calculated. These
were ideal body weight (IBW), body fat percen-
tage, relative sitting height (RSH) and body
surface area (BSA). Body dimensions, landmarks
and the measurement of each body dimension
procedures were defined by Frisancho (1993) and
Pheasant (1997). All the measurements can be seen
in Fig. 1ac.
2.3. Equipment
Body dimensions were taken with a Harpenden
standard anthropometer (Holtain Ltd., UK).
Hand and foot measurements were taken using
sliding calipers. A squeeze dynamometer (Model78010 Lafayette Instrument Co.) was used to take
the handgrip strength. Skinfold thickness was
taken with a skinfold caliper which was calibrated
to give a constant pressure of 10 g/mm2 over its
entire operational range. In addition, a portable
weighing scale accurate to +50 g was used to take
the body weight. Finally, an adjustable swivel
stool which can rotate on a pivot attached to a 4-
star-welded steel base was used to take sitting
Table 1
The distribution of subjects among the date-palm regions and
the agricultural sector
Agricultural sector Agricultural region Total %
Souf Zeb Touat Hoggar
Private 198 123 51 29 401 78
Government 28 57 17 11 113 22
Total 226 180 68 40 514 100
M. Mokdad / International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 29 (2002) 331341332
-
5/27/2018 1-s2.0-S0169814101000737-main
3/11
Fig. 1.
M. Mokdad / International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 29 (2002) 331341 333
-
5/27/2018 1-s2.0-S0169814101000737-main
4/11
Table 2
Anthropometric data of sample (n 514)
Measurement Mean SD SEM CV (%) Min 1st 5th 50th 95th 99th Max
Age 36 11.1 0.5 30.8 15 10 18 36 54 62 75
Handgrip 38 8.7 0.4 22.4 11 18 25 38 53 58 73
Weight 64 10.9 0.5 17.0 49 39 46 64 82 89 97
Standing arm reach
Maximum overhead 2074 89.4 3.9 4.3 1853 1866 1927 2074 2221 2282 2343
Standing heights
Stature 1726 76.0 3.4 4.0 1449 1549 1601 1726 1851 1903 1909
Eye 1597 66.3 3.0 4.0 1168 1443 1488 1597 1706 1751 1873
Shoulder 1446 67.1 2.9 4.7 893 1290 1335 1446 1556 1602 1787
Elbow 1099 52.8 2.4 4.0 747 976 1012 1099 1185 1222 1550
Knuckle 786 47.6 2.0 6.0 453 675 708 786 864 909 995
Standing breadths
Chest 264 6.1 0.8 6.0 182 226 238 264 291 302 415
Standing depths
Chest 217 19.0 0.9 8.7 159 173 186 217 248 261 350
Waist 200 22.1 1.0 11.0 116 149 167 200 236 251 304
Sitting arm reach
Maximum overhead 1280 64.0 2.8 4.9 1094 1131 1175 1280 1385 1429 1628
Maximum horizontal 884 64.1 2.8 7.2 710 735 779 884 989 950 1124
Sitting heights
Sitting 870 35.4 1.6 4.0 685 788 812 870 928 952 1069
Cervical 689 34.2 1.5 4.9 573 653 633 689 745 835 873
Eye 744 39.1 1.8 5.2 513 609 680 744 808 769 850
Shoulder 609 37.2 1.6 6.1 411 522 548 609 670 696 743
Knee 522 30.0 1.4 5.7 326 452 473 522 571 592 649
Popliteal 422 30.0 1.4 7.0 244 342 373 422 441 492 494
Elbow 191 24.0 1.0 12.5 105 135 152 191 230 247 335
Thigh thickness 115 15.3 0.7 13.3 88 79 90 115 140 151 215
Sitting lengths
Buttockfoot 1041 48.4 2.2 4.6 697 928 962 1041 1120 1154 1163
Buttockknee 574 38.4 1.7 6.6 363 485 511 574 637 663 840
Buttockpopliteal 475 28.5 1.3 6.0 314 409 428 475 522 541 620
Shoulderelbow 349 32.2 1.4 9.2 251 274 296 349 402 424 559
Elbowfingertip 463 33.0 1.5 7.1 346 386 409 463 517 540 528
Sitting breadths
Shoulder 406 27.0 1.2 6.6 303 343 362 406 450 469 504
Elbowelbow 430 38.0 1.7 8.8 326 341 368 430 492 519 730
Hip 337 25.8 1.2 7.6 198 277 295 337 379 397 528
Hand measurements
Hand length 194 14.0 0.7 7.2 140 161 171 194 217 227 297
Hand breadth 101 8.4 0.4 8.3 90 87 90 101 115 121 150
Hand breadth metacarpa 82 4.0 0.2 4.8 88 73 75 82 89 91 101
M. Mokdad / International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 29 (2002) 331341334
-
5/27/2018 1-s2.0-S0169814101000737-main
5/11
dimensions. Both the Harpenden anthropometer
and the skinfold caliper were periodically cali-
brated against rules. However, the weighting scale
and the squeeze dynamometer were calibrated
against standard weights (5 and 10 kg), by putting
the weights on the scale surface and hanging them
to the internal grip of the dynamometer which was
held vertical to a grooved surface.
2.4. Procedures
Both measuring postures were maintained
throughout the whole survey as natural as possible
according to Hertzberg (1968). To achieve a
greater scientific uniformity, measurements were
always carried out on the right-hand side of the
subjects, to the nearest millimeter. In addition, all
the measurements were taken in the mornings
between 7 and 12 a.m. Except handgrip measure-
ment, weight and skinfold thickness which weretaken twice (average recorded), all the remaining
measurements were taken just once. The whole
survey was carried out by a team of four members
aged 2236 years. Before starting the survey, a
training session of one week was provided in which
theoretical and practical instructions were given.
To ensure reliable measurements and recording, an
inspection tour was randomly performed by the
author. The whole survey was completed in a
period of about one and a half months.
3. Results and discussion
Different statistical methods can be used in
anthropometric studies. The choice of the statis-
tical method depends to a great extent upon the
nature of data and the purpose for which they are
collected and presented. In this study, descriptive
and inferential statistics have been used to make
data suitable for design purposes and to study the
differences which might exist between the studygroups. (See Appendix A for formula and refer-
ences.) All the results are presented in Tables 25.
Table 2 shows the mean, standard deviation
(SD), standard error of mean (SEM), coefficient of
variation (CV), 1st percentile, 5th percentile, 50th
percentile, 95th percentile, 99th percentile, the
maximum and the minimum values. Besides, it
shows the 4 anthropometric indices results.
It should be noted that body measurements were
taken when the body was in a fixed (static)
posture. Therefore, they should not be useddirectly in the design or redesign of equipment,
tools, and workplaces as they require functional
body dimensions which are more representative of
human activities. To translate static body dimen-
sions into dynamic ones, so that they can fit the
dynamic characteristics of equipment, Kroemers
suggestions (Kroemer, 1983) can be used. He
suggested the following guidelines:
(I) All heights are decreased by 0.3% of
their values except elbow height which is
Table 2 (continued)
Measurement Mean SD SEM CV (%) Min 1st 5th 50th 95th 99th Max
Foot measurements
Foot length 254 15.4 0.7 6.0 210 218 229 254 279 290 297
Foot breadth 95 7.7 0.4 8.1 95 87 82 95 108 123 136
Skinfold thickness
Triceps 0.8 5.2 0.3 66.0 0.3 0.0 0.6 0.8 17 20 31
Sub-scapula 13 6.7 0.3 51.5 0.5 0.0 2.0 13 24 29 47
Indices
Quetelet index 21 2.0 0.1 9.6 19 17 18 21 25 26 27
Body fat percentage 13 6.5 0.2 50.0 08 0.0 2.3 13 24 28 30
RSH 0.504 0.0 0.0 0.9 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.504 0.6 0.6 0.6
BSA (m2) 1.73 0.0 2.2 2.8 1.4 1.6 1.7 1.73 1.8 1.9 2.0
NB: All measurements are in millimeters except handgrip and weight in kilograms and age in years.
M. Mokdad / International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 29 (2002) 331341 335
-
5/27/2018 1-s2.0-S0169814101000737-main
6/11
increased by 0.5% of its value, and knee
height which is left as it is (i.e., with no
change).
(II) Reaches, particularly forward reach, are
decreased by 30%.
(III) If extensive shoulder and trunk movements
are involved, then reach is increased by20%.
As concerns SEM results, it can be seen that
standing heights and sitting arm reach dimensions
had the highest SEM values (2.83.9). However,
SEM of the other body dimensions are generally
small (0.32.2). These results indicate that spread
among the mean of the first set of dimensions
(standing heights and sitting arm reach) is greater
than spread among the means of the second set of
dimensions. Therefore, design or redesign deci-sions where standing heights and sitting arm reach
dimensions are used should be carefully made, as
generalizations from the sample to the population
could be difficult. A larger sample has to be
studied, if correct judgments are to be made.
As to the CV% results, it can be seen that the
highest values are associated with skinfold thick-
ness (66% and 51.5%), handgrip strength (22.4%)
and weight (17%). These values highly exceeded
the values of all other dimensions which are
Table 3
Anthropometric data of sample classified by age (mean values
Measurement 25 and less
(n 143)
2645
(n 230)
Over 45
(n 141)
Age 22 40 60
Handgrip 38 41 33
Weight 61 68 62
Standing arm reach
Maximum overhead 2099 2072 2051
Standing heights
Stature 1757 1724 1697
Eye 1640 1607 1544
Shoulder 1490 1457 1391
Elbow 1143 1118 1036
Knuckle 835 807 718
Standing breadths
Chest 259 273 265
Standing depths
Chest 206 233 215
Waist 180 198 221
Sitting arm reach
Maximum overhead 1293 1281 1266
Maximum horizontal 894 883 875
Sitting heights
Sitting 885 871 854
Cervical 710 696 662
Eye 765 751 716
Shoulder 630 616 580
Knee 529 520 518
Popliteal 429 421 419
Elbow 197 190 187
Thigh thickness 114 115 112
Sitting lengths
Buttockfoot 1052 1052 1019
Buttockknee 579 573 570
Buttockpopliteal 478 478 469
Shoulderelbow 376 376 358Elbowfingertip 464 464 461
Sitting breadths
Shoulder 406 413 400
Elbowelbow 416 452 430
Hip 340 344 332
Hand measurements
Hand length 197 198 186
Hand breadth 101 110 94
Hand breadth metacarpa 80 82 81
Table 3 (continued)
Measurement 25 and less
(n 143)
2645
(n 230)
Over 45
(n 141)
Foot measurements
Foot length 258 258 246
Foot breadth 95 94 93
Skinfold thickness
Triceps 8 10 8
Sub-scapula 12 15 13
Indices
Quetelet index 19.9 22.9 21.7
Body fat percentage 12 14 12
RSH 0.503 0.505 0.503
BSA (m2) 1.73 1.81 1.71
NB: All measurements are in millimeters except handgrip and
weight in kilograms.
M. Mokdad / International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 29 (2002) 331341336
-
5/27/2018 1-s2.0-S0169814101000737-main
7/11
-
5/27/2018 1-s2.0-S0169814101000737-main
8/11
generally small. In addition, it can be seen that
53% of the body dimensions are in the ranges
suggested by Pheasant (1997). However, CV% of
the other body dimensions particularly for some
sitting heights, sitting lengths and some parts of
the limbs are outside the suggested ranges. They
seem to suggest that the sample of this study whichwas 0.008% of the whole population (about 7
million agricultural workers) was not large enough
to decrease CV values. In order to reduce CV%
values, one has to increase the mean values which
could be done by adding new observations to the
sample. Increasing the sample mean will in turn
cause CV to decrease.
As related to the IBW; it can be seen that
Quetelet index was 21.48 which means that
Algerian farmers are normal, i.e., neither meager
nor obese (see Appendix B). This result is slightlyconfirmed by body fat percentage results. Table 2
shows that the mean body fat percentage of
Algerian farmers is 13. According to Hoeger and
Hoeger (1996), a good body fat percentage for the
age group 3039 years, should be 1419. Values
below this range indicate meagerness, whereas
values above it indicate obesity. Therefore, the
Algerian farmers can be considered as slightly
meager on this body fat percentage scale. How-
ever, when Demoulin and Chamla (1981) data
were used, Algerian farmers were also found to be
normal (Quetelet index was 21.19). Although both
indices indicated that farmers were normal, it
should be observed that Quetelet index has
increased from 21.19% in 1966 to 21.48% in
1998 confirming the idea of secular change that
has been advocated by many research workerssuch as Tunner (1978) who has shown that in a
period of about 80 years starting from about 1880
most of the European countries as well as USA,
Canada and Australia have seen this secular
change. It was B10 mm per decade in adult
stature. However, in the last few decades, this
secular increase seemed to have leveled off, if not
decreased in some counties. In Algeria, this secular
change could be attributed to nutritional and
health variables. As to nutrition, the policy that
the Algerian government started in the 1980s andfor which the slogan towards a better life was
advertised has played a great role in improving the
life of Algerians. The majority of young people
have access to good living facilities, which their
parents could not have access to previously
particularly during the French colonization era.
One of the most important aspects of this policy
was supporting the prices of all food items
particularly the basic ones such as flour, meat,
milk, oil, sugar and dry vegetables. The major
Table 5
Anthropometric dimensions and indices of farmers from different nationalities
Source Nationality n Age (years) Stature (cm) Weight (kg) BSA (m2) Ratio
Phillips (1954) Nigerians 7 29 163.4 54.7 1.583 0.028
Manuba and Nala (1969) Indonesians 5 3560 161.6 54.8 1.571 0.028
Kerana et al. (1997) Indonesians 6 3350 162.4 54.8 1.58 0.028
Davies (1973) Tanzanians 78 27 165.9 62.2 1.690 0.027
Spurr et al. (1975) Colombians 59 1856 163.8 58.6 1.633 0.027
Davies et al. (1975) Sudanese 165 26 173.2 54.8 1.652 0.030
Maksud et al. (1976) Colombians 55 29 163.0 57.8 1.618 0.027
Maksud et al. (1976) Mexicans 15 22 166.7 71.0 1.794 0.025
Collins et al. (1976) Sudanese 53 26 173.3 58.6 1.701 0.029
Sen et al. (1977) Indians 192 21 161.5 45.9 1.457 0.031
Demoulin and Chamla (1981) Algerians 384 2076 167.0 59.1 1.662 0.028
Pfeiffer et al. (1984) Canadians 105 48 174.4 80.2 1.953 0.024
Donati et al. (1984) English 6 42 180.0 76.5 1.958 0.025
Smith et al. (1986) Canadians 12 28 175.4 73.5 1.889 0.025Intaranont et al. (1988) Thai 100 2049 162.8 55.2 1.585 0.028
This study Algerians 514 36 172.6 64.0 1.760 0.027
M. Mokdad / International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 29 (2002) 331341338
-
5/27/2018 1-s2.0-S0169814101000737-main
9/11
result of this policy was that many Algerians were
able to have daily a well-balanced calorie intake
where the percentage of protein particularly from
animal sources has dramatically increased. Asconcerns health facilities, the policy of free
medicine, the government started in the early
1970s which increased the number of hospitals,
clinics, and doctors (either by local training or
through foreign cooperation), supplied free med-
icine to the poor and the needy, and supported the
prices of all types of medicaments, has played a
great role in the improvement of life of the
Algerians.
As to the RSH;it can be seen that Algerians had
a ratio of 0.504. According to Pheasant (1997),
when RSH is large (B0.55), the sample is short-
legged. But if it is small (B0.50), the sample is
long-legged. Therefore, Algerian farmers can be
considered as a long-legged sample, similar to
Black Africans who have proportionally longer
lower limbs. On the other hand, Algerian farmers
are clearly different from Europeans with an RSH
of B0.52 and far Easterners with an RSH of
B0.54 (Pheasant, 1997).
Table 3 shows anthropometric data classified on
the basis of age. This classification revealed that
there are clear differences between the three groups(25 years and less, 2645 years and over 45 years)
of the study. The means of stature for the young,
middle-aged, and old subjects were 1757, 1724 and
1697 mm, respectively. However, the means of
weight for the young, middle-aged and old subjects
were 61, 68 and 62 kg, respectively.F test (2, 511)
shows that older people (over 45 years) are
significantly shorter (po0:01) but not significantly
(p >0:05) heavier than young people. Moreover,
F test shows that young people (o25 years) are
significantly smaller (po0:01) than old people inwaist depth. However, in other body dimensions,
the old people are generally smaller than both the
young and the middle-aged. These differences
confirm the secular change hypothesis mentioned
above.
Table 4 shows the correlation coefficients
between different anthropometric dimensions.
These coefficients were calculated to see to what
extent these dimensions are related to each other
and to what extent equipment design decisions
could be based on such correlations. All
coefficients of correlation which are >0.19 are
significant at the 0.05 level. Stature, as can be seen
in Table 4, correlated significantly with all thestanding and sitting heights, sitting lengths and
hand and foot measurements. Similarly, weight
correlated significantly with body breadths,
depths, some sitting heights, hand and foot
measurements and skinfold thickness. In the case
of predicting body dimensions, only the predicted
values for eye height, shoulder height, elbow
height, buttockknee length, knee height, popliteal
height, elbowhand length and hand length from
stature, and for waist depth, elbow-to-elbow
breadth, hip breadth and sub-scapular skinfold
from weight could be accurately used for design
purposes as their coefficient of determination (r2)
is equal to or higher than 0.70.
Table 5 presents anthropometric dimensions of
farmers from different nationalities. Comparisons
of the present study results with results from other
national and international studies have been
carried out. First, it can be seen that both stature
and weight of Algerians have increased. In 1966,
they were 167 cm and 59.1 kg, respectively (De-
moulin and Chamla, 1981). However, in this
study, they are 172.6 cm and 64 kg, respectively.Second, it can also be seen that Algerian farmers
are taller and heavier than farmers in many
developing countries which have been considered
in this study. This conclusion should not be
regarded as completely true as results from
developing countries are slightly outdated. They
were published in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and
1980s. Secular change could also be a character-
istic of many developing countries. The evidences
cited by Roche (1979) that in many developed and
developing countries including India there exists asecular decrease, do not fit well with the develop-
ing countries agricultural workers and farmers
who have just started enjoying good life environ-
ment. What Roche mentioned could be a char-
acteristic of high-class individuals who had been
enjoying adequate life facilities for many years.
Third, it is also seen that the Algerians are both
lighter and shorter than farmers from developed
countries. Although the sample of farmers from
developed countries is very small (farmers from
M. Mokdad / International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 29 (2002) 331341 339
-
5/27/2018 1-s2.0-S0169814101000737-main
10/11
Britain and Canada only), it is to a certain extent
representative of the farmers of other developed
countries. Many researchers have found that
developed countries populations are larger andheavier than populations in developing countries.
(Roberts, 1975; Abeysekera and Shahnawaz,
1989). These results will presumably help all the
authorities who are responsible for both the
development and transfer of technology to agri-
cultural sector. It has been already mentioned that
in Algeria B45% of agricultural equipment is
locally made, and B55% is transferred from
developed countries. The technology that is
transferred from developed countries is not going
to automatically fit the Algerians, because it has
not been designed for them. The misfit will be
unavoidable, and it will cause not only quick and
short-term effects, but, in the long term, it will also
have negative consequences on both farmers and
agriculture.
In addition, it shows the ratio of BSA to body
mass of farmers from different nationalities. It can
be seen that values range from 0.024 (the smallest
value) to 0.031 (the highest value), the mean and
SD being 0.027 and 0.002, respectively. In addi-
tion, it can be observed that the Canadians, the
English and the Mexicans obtain the smallestvalues. However, the values of the other nation-
alities are generally high. These results confirm the
rule of Bergmann which states that the body size
of varieties increases with decreasing mean tem-
perature of the habitat (Ciochon and Fleagle,
1993). Therefore, a small ratio is to be found in
cold and moderate areas of the globe (Earth),
whereas high ratio is found in hot and warm areas.
A large body size helps the creature maintain the
body heat, while a small size helps to dissipate
body heat. The majority of developing countriesconsidered in this study are found in hot and warm
areas. On the other hand, the farmers of developed
countries of this study live in cold and moderate
environments.
4. Uncited references
Davies et al., 1976; Suyasning et al., 1997.
Appendix A. Formulae used in this study
(1) SEM=SD/square root of sample size.
(2) CV=SD/mean 100 (Pheasant, 1997).
(3) RSH=sitting height/stature (Frisancho,
1993).
(4) Percentage of body fat=skinfold measure-
ments taken at two body sites: triceps and
sub-scapular. Body fat%=[(4.95/
density)4.50] 100 (Frisancho, 1993).
(5) IBW: Quetelet index=weight (kg)/height 2
(m) (Frisancho, 1993).
Quetelet index range Classificationo20.00 Underweight
20.0024.9 Normal
25.0029.9 Overweight
30.0034.9 Moderate obesity
40.00 and over Severe obesity
(6) BSA=weight 0.425 height 0.725-
0.425height 0.725 0.007184 (DuBois
and DuBois, 1916).
References
Abeysekera, J., Shahnawaz, H., 1989. Body size variability
between people in developed and developing countries and
its impact on the use of imported goods. International
Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 4, 139149.
Biskra Governorate Department of Agriculture, 1996. Re-
organization of agricultural sector. Internal Report No.
011/96, p. 27.
Ciochon, R.L., Fleagle, J.G., 1993. The Human EvolutionSource Book. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey.
Collins, K.J., Brotherhood, R.G., Davies, C.T.M., Dore, C.,
Hacket, A., Imms, F.J., Musgrove, J., Weiner, J.S., Amin,
A.M., El-Karim, M., Ismail, H.M., Omer, A.H.S., Sukkar,
M.Y., 1976. Physiological performance work capacity of
Sudanese cane cutter with Schistosoma Mansoni infection.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 25 (3),
410421.
Davies, C.T.M., 1973. Relationship of maximum aerobic power
output to productivity and absenteeism of East African
sugar can cutters. British Journal of Industrial Medicine 30,
154164.
M. Mokdad / International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 29 (2002) 331341340
-
5/27/2018 1-s2.0-S0169814101000737-main
11/11
Davies, C.T.M., Brotherhood, J.R., Collins, K.J., Dore, C.,
Imms, F., Musgrove, J., Wiener, J.S., 1976. Energy
expenditure and physiological performance of Sudanese
cane cutters. British Journal of Industrial Medicine 33, 181
186.
Demoulin, F., Chamla, M.C., 1981. Anthropometric data,
physical activity and nutrition status in a population of
rural adults in North Africa (Algeria). Journal of Human
Evolution 10, 615622.
Donati, P.M., Boldero, A.G., Whyte, R.T., Stayner, R.M.,
1984. The postural support of seats: a study of driver
preferences during simulated tractor operation. Applied
Ergonomics 15 (1), 210.
DuBois, D., DuBois, E.F., 1916. A formula to estimate the
approximate surface area if height and weight be known.
Archives of Internal Medicine 17, 863871.
Frisancho, A.R., 1993. Anthropometric Standards for the
Assessment of Growth and Nutritional Status. The Uni-versity of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor.
Hertzberg, H.T.E., 1968. The conference on standardization of
anthropometric techniques and terminology. American
Journal of Physical Anthropology 28 (1), 116.
Hoeger, W.K., Hoeger, S.A., 1996. Principles and Labs for
Physical Fitness and Wellness. Morton Publishing Com-
pany, Englewood, NJ.
Intaranont, K., Khokhajaikiat, P., Somnasang, S., Asvakiat, P.,
1988. Anthropometry and physical work capacity of
agricultural workers in Thailand. Proceedings of the IEA,
Australia.
Kroemer, K.H.E., 1983. Engineering anthropometry: work
space and equipment to fit the user. In: Oborne, D.,
Gruneberg, M. (Eds.), The Physical Environment at Work.Wiley, London.
Maksud, M.G., Spurr, G.B., Barac-Nieto, M., 1976. The
aerobic power of several groups of labourers in Columbia
and the United States. European Journal of Applied
Physiology 35, 173182.
Manuba, A., Nala, N., 1969. Survey of Patjols in Bali.
Proceedings of the 16th International Congress on Occupa-
tional Health, Tokyo, Japan. pp. 434436.
Pfeiffer, S., Graham, T.E., Webb, R.D.G., Wilson, B.A.,
Rivingtons-Moss, E.G., Fisker-Iggram, L.M., 1984. Aspects
of physical fitness and health in Ontario dairy farmers.
Canadian Journal of Public Health 75, 204211.
Pheasant, S., 1997. Body Space: Anthropometry, Ergonomics
and Design. Taylor & Francis, London.
Phillips, P.G., 1954. The metabolic cost of common West
African agricultural activities. Journal of Tropical Medicine
57, 1220.
Roberts, D.F., 1975. Population differences in dimensions, their
genetic basis and their relevance to practical problems. In:
Chapanis, A. (Ed.), Ethnic Variables in Human Engineer-
ing. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD.
Roche, A.F., 1979. Secular trends in stature, weight and
maturation. Monographs of the Society for Research inChild Development 44 (3-4), 327.
Sen, R.N., Nag, P.K., Ray, G.G., 1977. Some anthropometry
of people of Eastern India. Journal of Indian Anthro-
pological Association 12, 199206.
Smith, T.J., Gilbert, A.M., Henshaw, M., 1986. Tree planting
work: an occupational ergonomics health and safety
analysis. Proceedings of the 19th Annual Conference of
the Human Factors Association of Canada, British Colom-
bia, 2223 August 1986. pp. 16.
Spurr, G.B., Barac-Nieto, M., Maksud, M.G., 1975. Energy
expenditure cutting sugar cane. Journal of Applied Physiol-
ogy 39 (6), 990996.
Suyasning, T.K., Manuba, A., Vanwonterghem, K., 1997. The
effects of postural load and environmental conditions toBalinese farmers physical performance. In: Halimahtun,
M.K. (Ed.), ASEAN Ergonomics 97. Proceedings of the
Fifth SEAES Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. IEA
Press, pp. 518523.
Tunner, J.M., 1978. Foetus into Man. Open Books, London.
M. Mokdad / International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 29 (2002) 331341 341