Background Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is an important cause for reduced daily physical activity (PA) and loss of quality of life, especially in women. In Suriname, a middle-income country in South America, the relationship between PA and CLBP is still unknown. Aims To assess the level of PA in women with CLBP of different ethnicity, and to identify whether fear avoidance beliefs (FAB), disability, co-occurring musculoskeletal pain sites and various sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were associated with self-reported PA. Methods A cross-sectional community-based house-to-house survey was conducted between April 2016 and July 2017. The survey followed the Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases methodology. Selection criteria were being female of Asian-Surinamese, African-Surinamese or of Mixed ethnicity and aged 18 or older, living in an urban area, and reporting CLBP. Data was collected on PA, FAB, disability, co-occurring musculoskeletal pain sites, CLBP intensity and sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Results Urban adult women with current CLBP (N = 210) were selected. Nearly 57% of the population met the WHO recommendation on PA, with work-related PA as the largest contributor to total self-reported PA. Most women showed low FAB scores (FABQ-Work ≤34 (96.2%) and FABQ-PA ≤14 (57.6%)) and low disability levels (Oswestry Disability Index ≤20 (62.4%)). An inverse association between total PA and FABQ-Work (OR = 0.132, CI: 0.023; 0.750) was found. In contrast, total PA had a significant, positive association with disability (OR = 2.154, CI: 1.044; 4.447) and workload (OR = 2.224, CI: 1.561; 3.167). All other variables showed no association with total PA. Conclusion This was the first study in Suriname reporting that 43.3% of urban adult women with CLBP were physically inactive. Total self-reported PA is influenced by FABQ-Work, average to heavy workload and moderate to severe disability. In this study, PA-Work was the major contributor to total PA. Therefore, future longitudinal studies should evaluate different types and aspects of PA in relation to CLBP management.
Objectives The aims were to determine, for the first time, the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) in urban and rural communities and to assess back beliefs and treatment-seeking behaviour in Suriname, a multi-ethnic country in the Caribbean community. Methods A cross-sectional community-based survey using the Community Oriented Program for the Control of Rheumatic Diseases methodology was performed between April 2016 and July 2017. Information was collected on LBP prevalence and LBP-related treatment seeking, beliefs about LBP [Back Beliefs Questionnaire (BBQ)], level of disability (Oswestry Disability Index) and the risk of developing persistent disabling pain (Start Back Screening Tool). Results A total of 541 out of 2902 individuals reported current acute or chronic LBP. It was more prevalent in urban (20.2%) than in rural (13.7%) communities, especially in females and older adults (>55 years of age). Individuals from rural areas [median BBQ = 18.00 (14.00–22.00)] had significantly more negative beliefs than the urban population [median BBQ = 25.00 (19.00–31.00); P < 0.001]. Maroons displayed more negative beliefs than Creole (P = 0.040), Hindustani (P < 0.001), Javanese (P < 0.001) and mixed ethnicity (P < 0.001) groups. At least 75% of the LBP population sought care, especially from a western health-care practitioner. Seeking treatment and having a higher risk of developing persistent disabling pain was significantly associated with more disability (P < 0.001). Age ≥45 years (P < 0.001), Indigenous ethnicity (P < 0.05) and functional disability (P < 0.001) were factors influencing treatment seeking. Conclusion Low back pain is a prevalent health problem in the Surinamese urban community, especially in older adults and among females. Most individuals experiencing LBP visited a western health-care practitioner and had more negative beliefs compared with other communities.
BackgroundMusculoskeletal disorders are regarded as the fourth greatest burden on world health. Among these disorders, low back pain (LBP) ranks first for disability and sixth for overall burden1. However, there is a large range in prevalence in the general population (1.0% to 58.1%) due to environmental and individual factors2. There is limited data on prevalence and risk factors for LBP in developing countries, especially for vulnerable groups. This includes indigenous populations. Therefore a study was done regarding LBP in an indigenous population in Suriname, a South-American middle-income country.ObjectivesThe objective of the study was to determine prevalence of self-reported LBP and possible relationships with several risk factors (gender, age, education level, body mass index (BMI), and smoking) in an indigenous community.MethodsData on LBP in Galibi was acquired through the COPCORD (Community Oriented Program for the Control of Rheumatic Diseases) stage 1 method. Galibi is located in the rural eastern coastal area of Suriname and consists of two indigenous villages: Langamankondre and Christiaankondre. The Ministry of Health provided ethical approval. Indigenous persons above 15 years, who were present in the village at the time of the study, were eligible for participation. After informed consent all participants were interviewed, and their anthropometric measurements were taken (height, weight, waist circumference). Association between LBP and risk factors were analysed with the chi square test. Significance level was set at p≤0.05.ResultsFrom 4–11 December 2016, a total of 153 persons participated in the study. There were 79 (52%) male and 74 (48%) female respondents. Mean age was 50.9 years (standard deviation 18.1 years; age range 16–92 years). A total of 80 respondents (52.2%) indicated that they had experienced at least one episode of LBP during their life time. Prevalence for males was 53.2% and 51.4% for females. The highest prevalence was among persons in the age group 55–74 years (60.3%). The lowest prevalence was found among persons who at least finished secondary school (41.2%). Smokers had a higher prevalence for LBP (60.7%) compared to non-smokers (50.4%), and LBP prevalence increased as BMI increased. None of the variables were significantly associated with LBP.ConclusionsThe life time prevalence of LBP among the study population was 52%. No significant difference in prevalence between genders was found. There was a higher prevalence for smokers, persons with a lower education level and those with an increased BMI. However, significant associations between LBP and risk factors were not found in this study. Further research in a larger population is recommended.References[1] A.D. Woolf (2015) Global burden of osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal diseases. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 16(Suppl 1): S3.1. DOI: 10.1186/1471–2474–16-S1-S3[2] D. Hoy, P. Brooks, F. Blyth, R. Buchbinder (2010) The Epidemiology of low back pain. Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology, vol. 24, no. 6, pp. 76...
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