Prevalence of Sickness Absence due to Low Back Pain among Female Teachers in Secondary School, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Journal Title: International Journal of Medical Research Professionals - Year 2017, Vol 3, Issue 3
Abstract
Background: Low back pain (LBP) is very prevalent amongst general and working populations and is a significant health problem due to its serious economic and social impact. Objectives: To determine prevalence of sickness absence due to low back pain as well as to identify potential risk factors associated with low back pain among female teachers in secondary school, Jeddah 2013. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted included a representative sample of female teachers working in female Jeddah secondary governmental schools during the academic year 1434-1435 H. Multistage random sampling technique was applied. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The dependent variable is low back pain while the independent variables were personal characteristics, load of work at home, work-related factors, life style (practicing physical exercise), medical history, and sick leave because of low back pain. Results: The study included 184 female secondary school teachers. Their age ranged between 22 and 53 years with a mean of 36.5 years and standard deviation of 7 years. Sick leave because of lower back pain was reported among exactly half of the participants. Sick leave was more than three times among 45.7% of them. Regarding its duration, it was more than three days among more than half of them (55.5%). Majority of them (83.2%) reported low back pain with its different frequencies. Among 9.8% of them, it was continuous for years. Slightly more than half of them (52.3%) claimed that LBP increase during work whereas 43.1% of them reported that it increases during both vacation and work. Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that female teachers who had longer experience in schoolwork were more likely to develop LBP. Considering those with an experience of five years or less as a reference category, those who had experience of 6-10 years, 11-15 years and >15 years were at higher risk to develop LBP (Adjusted ORs were 5.81, 12.71 and 6.68. respectively). Compared to underweight teachers, overweight and obese teachers were at higher significant risk for LBP (OR ranged between 8.32 for overweight to 16.15 for sever/morbid obesity). Teachers who depended on private cars, rented cars and school bus were more likely to have LBP opposed to those who depended on walking as a method of transportation (OR ranged between 5.5 for school bus to 13.36 for private cars). Conclusion: Low back pain is a common health problem among high school female teachers in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia. Longer work experience, high body mass index and using cars for school transportation were significant predictors for LBP among female school teachers. Low back pain is an important cause of sickness absence among participants.
Authors and Affiliations
Reema Rashed Alaradi, Sultan Rashed Alaradi
Keywords
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- EP ID EP548058
- DOI 10.21276/ijmrp.2017.3.3.043
- Views 81
- Downloads 0
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