Prevalence and Associated Factors of Low Back Pain Among Teachers Working at Governmental Primary Schools in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Study

Tsega-Ab Abebaw*¹, Mitslal Kidane Weldegebriel², Bereket Gebremichael³ and Admas Abera Abaerei⁴

Received:October 05, 2018;   Published: October 15, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.10.001886

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Abstract

Authorship

MK participated in the conception and design of the study and coordinated the data collection. TA critically reviewed the proposal, did the data analysis, the write up and prepared the manuscript for publication. BG and AA contributed by critically reviewing the proposal, design of the study, and data analysis. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is among the greatest public health threats that individuals face around the world. Teachers are recognized to denote an occupational cluster in which it appears to partake a great prevalence of LBP. Nevertheless, data about its extent and associated factors among school teachers is limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of LBP among teachers working at governmental primary schools in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2016.

Materials and Methods: A school centered cross sectional study was conducted. The total number teachers participated in the study was 827. A self-administered questionnaire was used. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to assess the outcome of different factors on LBP. A statistical significance was assumed when, P value ≤0.05 at 95% CI.

Results: The prevalence of LBP was found to be 340 (44%). The multivariable logistic regression showed that, ergonomics training, enough teachers in school, prolonged sitting posture and poor work place social environment were significantly associated with LBP (AOR=2.246, 3.786, 0.237 and 6.799 respectively). Those respondents who are female, aged 30-40 and aged >40 also showed a significant association (AOR=1.547, 1.96, 4.895 respectively).

Conclusion: LBP is a thoughtful problem among governmental primary school teachers in Addis Ababa. Work place social environment, work posture, enough teachers in the school and ergonomic training are among the factors which have to be given a great attention in order to surmount the situation.

Keywords : Low Back Pain; School Teachers; Musculoskeletal Disorder

Abstract | Introduction| Methods| Results| Discussion | Conclusion| Acknowledgment| References|