[Prevalence and factors associated with low back pain among motorcycle drivers in Porto-Novo (Benin)]

low back pain is a major health problem in the workplace. Some populations of workers appear to be much more exposed than others. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and the factors associated with the occurrence of low back pain among motorcycle drivers in Porto-Novo.

we conducted a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study of 270 consenting motorcycle drivers with at least one year of seniority. Patients were asked to complete the Nordic Questionnaire adapted to our context and physical examination of the spine was performed. Data were analyzed using Epidata 3.1. Software and STATA/IC 11.0. The threshold significance level was 5% and the confidence intervals were 95%.

the prevalence of low back pain was 68.89%. The average age of motorcycle drivers was 42.43 ±11.25 [25-64]years. The majority of them had been driving for more than 5 years (93.33%). Drivers spent an average of more than 8 hours (93.34%) driving per day and 68.52% of them drove over 160km per day. Low back pain was mechanical in 91.39% of cases. It was characterized by sudden onset in 81.73% of cases. Pain was moderate in 55.91% of drivers, evolving in acute pain in 46.24% of drivers and without radiation in 62.36% of cases. Age, education level, stress, posture, condition of motorcycle shock absorbers were associated with low back pain in these motorcycle drivers (p < 0.001). By contrast, distance travelled, job duration, seniority and road conditions were not associated with the occurrence of low back pain.

low back pain is a serious public health problem in particular among motorcycle drivers in our country where riding a motorcycle is becoming more and more a work to bring assistance to the population facing growing unemployment. Hence the need to address factors associated with effective prevention.