Hallux Valgus as an Occupational Disease among Indonesian Female Workers: A Study Using Seven Steps of Occupational Diagnosis Approach

Shoes are a necessity for female workers. Not only they are used as footwear, they also play role in workers’ appearance. Company policies sometimes require female workers to use high heels, which could consequently lead to frequent foot problems such as hallux valgus (HV). This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of HV as an occupational disease among female workers at M department store, in Bekasi City West Java on May to June 2018, using a seven steps of occupational diagnosis approach. Female workers with HV were included as study subjects and were given questionnaires. Data was analyzed using the seven steps of occupational diagnosis method to establish the diagnosis of HV as an occupational disease or work-related disease or non-occupational disease. A total of 35 subjects were diagnosed with HV by the orthopedic specialist, 19 subjects of whom had an occupational disease and 8 subjects of work-related HV and 8 subjects of non-occupational HV. The majority of HV cases among the female workers at the department store was an occupational disease.