PREVALENCE OF LOW BACK PAIN AND EVALUATION OF WORK POSTURE AMONG HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS OF DISTRICT HEAD QUARTER HOSPITALS OF HAZARA DIVISION: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: Low Back Pain (LBP) is the muscle tension, pain and stiffness in the area beneath the ribs margins and above the gluteal folds. This pain may be radiating or not radiating to the legs. The important symptoms of LBP are pain and disability.

Material & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in DHQ Haripur, Abbottabad and Mansehra of Hazara division from May 2018 to October 2018. The self-modified questionnaire was distributed among the healthcare professionals of DHQ Haripur, Abbottabad and Mansehra. Professionals of both genders aged between 25 and 60 were included while professionals with specific pathologies i.e. lumbar fracture, neoplasm, trauma, and kidney pain were excluded from the study. SPSS version 22 was used for analysis. 

Results: The mean age of participants was 31.29 ± 7.75. The overall prevalence was n=197 (59.7%). The prevalence of LBP was found for Physicians, Physical Therapists, Technicians and Nurses. The participants with the highest prevalence rate were technicians n=111 (33.4%) followed by nurses n=103 (31.2%). A larger population n=222 (67.3 %) has experienced LBP in the past. Male participants with LBP were n = 111 (56.3 %) while females were n = 86 (43.6 %). Most of the healthcare professionals experienced LBP after joining the job (P = < 0.05).