Email this article 
Hide
Show all
Original Research
Low back pain among primary school teachers in Rural Kenya: Prevalence and contributing factors
Submitted: 06 May 2018 | Published: 17 April 2019
About the author(s)
Hussein E. Elias, Department of Family Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, KenyaRaymond Downing, Department of Family Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
Ann Mwangi, Department of Behavioural Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
Abstract
Background: Low back pain (LBP) has been recognised as a common occupational problem with a high prevalence among work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Although there appears to be a high prevalence of LBP among school teachers, there is inadequate information on the prevalence and predisposing factors of LBP among primary school teachers in rural Western Kenya.
Aim: To determine the prevalence, factors associated with LBP and physical disability caused by LBP.
Setting: The setting was public schools in rural Western Kenya selected by simple random sampling method.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among primary teachers from public schools using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included information on LBP, demographic data, occupational and psychosocial factors and disability score. The 12-month prevalence, associated factors and LBP disability were analysed.
Results: The 12-month self-reported prevalence of LBP among primary teachers was 64.98%, with close to 70% of them reporting minimal disability. The logistic regression analysis showed that female gender (odds ratio [OR]: 1.692, p < 0.02) was associated with LBP and high supervisor support (OR: 0.46, p < 0.003) was negatively associated with LBP.
Conclusion: The prevalence of LBP among primary school teachers in rural Western Kenya is 64.98%, with the majority of them reporting minimal disability. The identified risk factors were female gender and low supervisor support. The presence of work-related psychosocial risk factors in this study suggests a comprehensive approach in evaluation and management of LBP. Preventive measures should be in place to prevent and reduce the progression of LBP disability.
Keywords
Metrics
Total abstract views: 6154Total article views: 10749
Crossref Citations
1. Work-related injuries in the Australian education sector: A retrospective cohort study
Fatimah M Al Afreed, Tyler J Lane, Shannon E Gray
Injury vol: 53 issue: 12 first page: 3962 year: 2022
doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2022.09.046
2. Lombalgia em estudantes e professores de medicina durante a pandemia: Estudo de coorte retrospectivo
Arthur Fiorotto de Mattos, Natália Fortuny de Lima, Marcelo Wajchenberg, Delio Eulalio Martins
Revista Brasileira de Ortopedia vol: 58 issue: 04 first page: e592 year: 2023
doi: 10.1055/s-0043-1771482
3. Prevalence, risk factors and quality of life impact of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among school teachers in Cairo, Egypt
Viviane Farid Fahmy, Mohamed Abdel Maguid Tolba Momen, Nayera Samy Mostafa, Mohamed Yehia Elawady
BMC Public Health vol: 22 issue: 1 year: 2022
doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-14712-6
4. Back Pain Prevalence, Intensity, and Associated Risk Factors among Female Teachers in Slovakia during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study
Pablo Prieto-González, Miroslava Šutvajová, Anna Lesňáková, Peter Bartík, Kristína Buľáková, Teresa Friediger
Healthcare vol: 9 issue: 7 first page: 860 year: 2021
doi: 10.3390/healthcare9070860
5. Musculoskeletal Pain Among School Teachers in Qassim, Saudi Arabia: Prevalence, Pattern, and Its Risk Factors
Abdulrhman Aldukhayel , Fatimah K Almeathem, Aram A Aldughayyim , Razan A Almeshal, Emtenan A Almeshal, Jolan S Alsaud, Reema I Albaltan
Cureus year: 2021
doi: 10.7759/cureus.17510
6. Knowledge of Low Back Pain among Primary School Teachers
Josep Vidal-Conti, Gemma Carbonell, Jaume Cantallops, Pere A Borràs
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health vol: 18 issue: 21 first page: 11306 year: 2021
doi: 10.3390/ijerph182111306
7. Low back-pain among school-teachers in Southern Tunisia: prevalence and predictors
Mouna Baklouti, Houda Ben Ayed, Nouha Ketata, Hanen Maamri, Raouf Karray, Jihene Jdidi, Yosra Mejdoub, Mondher Kassis, Sourour Yaich, Jamel Dammak
Scandinavian Journal of Pain vol: 23 issue: 4 first page: 687 year: 2023
doi: 10.1515/sjpain-2023-0023
8. Lower back pain prevalence and experiences in civil service workers, Botswana
David Damba, Sonti I. Pilusa
African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine vol: 17 issue: 1 year: 2025
doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4629
9. Musculoskeletal Disorders Associated With Quality of Life and Body Composition in Urban and Rural Public School Teachers
Gustavo Vega-Fernández, Lydia Lera, Bárbara Leyton, Pilar Cortés, Pablo A. Lizana
Frontiers in Public Health vol: 9 year: 2021
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.607318
10. Musculoskeletal Disorders and Quality of Life in Chilean Teachers: A Cross-Sectional Study
Gustavo Vega-Fernández, Enrique Olave, Pablo A. Lizana
Frontiers in Public Health vol: 10 year: 2022
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.810036
11. Magnitude and influencing factors of work-related low back pain among high school teachers in West Arsi zone, Southwest Ethiopia: evidenced from multicentred cross-sectional study
Shambel Gemedo, Zewudu Andualem, Amensisa Hailu Tesfaye, Awrajaw Dessie
BMJ Open vol: 13 issue: 7 first page: e074014 year: 2023
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074014
12. Impact of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Diseases (WMSD) among Medical Teachers on their Quality of Life in North India
Kuldip S. Sandhu, Annie Sandhu, Karamdeep Singh Kahal, Harmandeep Grewal, Daljinder Singh, Nandini Duggal, Pahul Singh Sandhu
Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences vol: 17 issue: Suppl 3 first page: S2545 year: 2025
doi: 10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_777_25
13. Bel Ağrılı Çalışan Türk Popülasyonunda Örebro Kas-İskelet Tarama Anketinin Geçerlik, Güvenilirlik ve Kültürel Adaptasyonu
Etkin Bağcı, Mahmut Yaran, Gamze Ekici
Hacettepe University Faculty of Health Sciences Journal vol: 12 issue: 2 first page: 584 year: 2025
doi: 10.21020/husbfd.1681788
14. The influence of demographic, health, sleep, work-related, ergonomic, lifestyle, and wearable technology use factors on absenteeism due to neck, shoulder and low back pain Among teachers in Saudi Arabia
Manal Almalki
WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation year: 2025
doi: 10.1177/10519815251386810
15. Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Disorders among the Teaching Staff of the University of Douala, Cameroon: Association with Physical Activity Practice
Archipe Mohamadou Tami, Elysée Claude Bika Lele, Jerson Mekoulou Ndongo, Clarisse Noel Ayina Ayina, Wiliam Richard Guessogo, Marie-Yvonne Lobe Tanga, Léon Jules Owona Manga, Abdou Temfemo, Bienvenu Bongue, Samuel Honoré Mandengue, Nathalie Barth, Peguy Brice Assomo Ndemba
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health vol: 18 issue: 11 first page: 6004 year: 2021
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18116004
16. Prevalence, Patterns, and Risk Factors of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Diseases Among Teachers in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia: A Community-Based Retrospective Cross-Sectional Survey
Maitha K AlMaghlouth, Nasser M Alserhani, Farha A Aldossary, Munirah A Alabdulqader, Bassmh A Al-Dhafer
Cureus year: 2022
doi: 10.7759/cureus.32178
17. A Geo-Medical Study of Low Back Pain Associated With Risk Factors Reported among Female School Teachers of Srinagar District, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Aisha Dev, M. Imran Ganaie, Ishtiaq A. Mayer, Harmeet Singh, Afshan Nabi
Feminist Research vol: 7 issue: 1 first page: 21 year: 2023
doi: 10.21523/gcj2.23070103
18. Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Its Intensity Among Teachers of Universities in Lahore
Maida Mushtaq, Siddiqa Qamar, Shazia Rafiq, Sobia Zia Zia, Maha Mohiuddin, Abdul Ghafoor, Maira Saeed, Sajjid Iqbal
Pakistan Journal of Health Sciences first page: 180 year: 2022
doi: 10.54393/pjhs.v3i06.309