Low Back Pain and Its Associated Factors among School Teachers of Woliso Town, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2024 by: Amina Kedir (Bsc)

Abstract

Background: Low back pain is a common problem among the working populations, specifically within the teaching profession. It is the leading cause of activity limitation and work absenteeism among teachers. However, there was no evidence based information on low back pain among primary and secondary school teachers in this study area. Hence, this study aimed to fill gap in the study topic by searching for updated evidence on low back pain among primary and secondary school teachers. Objective: This study aimed to assess magnitude of low back pain and its associated factors among school teachers Woliso Town, ,, Ethiopia, 2024. Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study design conducted among 416 school teachers in Woliso Town from March 1 to 15, 2024. Study participants were selected by simple random sampling using computer generated random numbers. Data were collected by self-administered using standard Nordic questionnaire. The collected data entered using EPI-INFO version 7 and analyzed by statistical package for social sciences version 25. Data were summarized using descriptive analysis. Data analysis was done using bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression model. Statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05 along with 95% Confidence interval. Results: A total of 409 study participants were involved making a response rate of 98.3%. The overall magnitude of low back pain among school teachers in the study area was 219 (53.5%) (95%CI: 48.7%, 58.7%). Being in the age range of 31-40 years (AOR=3.08; 95%CI: 1.45, 6.52), being older than 40 years (AOR=5.92; 95%CI: 2.53, 13.86), exposure to prolonged standing during teaching (AOR=4.43; 95%CI: 1.90, 10.32), lack of rest between sessions (AOR=3.81; 95%CI: 2.36, 6.15), lack of training on occupational safety (AOR=3.84; 95%CI: 1.42, 10.37), not satisfaction on job (AOR=2.08; 95%CI: 1.31, 3.30) and work place stress (AOR=2.86; 95%CI: 1.73, 4.71) were factors that significantly associated with low back pain. Conclusion: The magnitude of low back pain among school teachers was high. Age of teacher, prolonged standing during teaching, not having rest between sessions, lack of training occupational safety, unsatisfied with job and work place stress were factors that were significantly associated with low back pain. Therefore, it is important to focus on those factors to limit low back pain among school teachers.