Prevalence and factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders among dental practitioners in Rwanda

Musculoskeletal disorders among dental professionals remain highly prevalent due to prolonged non-ergonomic postures, repetitive movements and inadequate work practices. Therefore, it is of interest to assess the prevalence and associated factors of musculoskeletal disorders among 268 dental practitioners in Rwanda using stratified random sampling and questionnaire-based data analyzed with SPSS version 27. The overall prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was 84%, with the neck (64.0%), lower back (62.7%) and wrists or hands (42.2%) being the most affected regions. Significant associations were observed with repetitive movements, insufficient breaks between procedures and increased working days per week (p < 0.05). Thus, we show the need for ergonomic interventions and preventive strategies to reduce occupational health risks among dental practitioners.