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Risk factors for low back pain among office workers in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria
1Occupational Health Unit, Department of Community Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. dhf.omokhodion@skannet.com
Background:
Low back pain is the most common musculo-skeletal problem in the workplace. Data from low-income countries are scant.
Objectives:
To determine the prevalence and risk factors for low back pain among office workers in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study design was utilized. Questionnaires were distributed among office workers in the civil service in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Results:
Eight hundred and forty questionnaires were analysed, with a response rate of 66%. The 12 month prevalence of low back pain was 38% and the point prevalence was 20%. Low back pain was significantly associated with senior staff grade and smoking. Severity of low back pain was associated with sitting for >3 h. Only 16 respondents (5%) reported sickness absence due to back pain in the previous year. A total of 75 days were lost, a mean of 4.7 days per year.
Conclusions:
The occurrence of low back pain in this study is comparable with that reported in studies from more industrialized countries, but does not constitute a major cause of sickness absence in this group of workers.
