Background and Context
The Institute of Health Sciences (ICS) at O’Higgins University (UOH) proposes to implement the “SALVIA: Health and Quality of Life Among Beekeepers” program, with the goal of studying the health status of workers in the beekeeping sector in the O’Higgins region. SALVIA seeks to strengthen the Institutional Strategic Priority of Community Engagement by analyzing the physical condition, nutritional status, and quality of life of beekeepers who are suppliers to and/or affiliated with the company Natural Bee® SpA.
The primary focus stems from the fact that beekeeping workers experience high levels of physical stress due to demanding occupational requirements (handling hives, maintaining certain postures, repetitive movements, environmental exposure, among others), along with changes in dietary habits and potential nutritional imbalances resulting from long workdays in remote locations.
The evidence reports that work-related musculoskeletal disorders are particularly common among beekeepers, primarily affecting the lumbar spine, lower extremity joints (hips and knees), and upper extremities, which is associated with improper postures during harvesting and hive-handling tasks (Rasoulivalajoozi et al., 2023; Pierce et al., 2026). Additionally, it has been documented that beekeepers’ working conditions lead to unbalanced dietary patterns, with insufficient intake of dairy products, proteins, and micronutrients (Wang et al., 2021). All these factors have been described as potential etiological agents of injuries and sick leave, issues that undermine functional independence, continuity of employment, and health-related quality of life.
In recent decades, Latin America has faced a major health crisis affecting most countries in the region, characterized by the coexistence of various forms of malnutrition, including undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, overweight, and obesity. In this context, workers in the agri-food sector, such as beekeepers, constitute a group that is particularly vulnerable to these nutritional deficiencies (Biermayr-Jenzano, 2019), which justifies the implementation of interventions aimed at minimizing or correcting potential nutritional risks, thereby improving their health status and quality of life.
Thus, SALVIA will help identify opportunities for promoting health and well-being that support interventions by health professionals, addressing gaps in regional and national efforts related to workplace safety.