Prevalence of Self-Reported Work-Related Lower Back Pain and Its Associated Factors in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Introduction. Low back pain is the commonest musculoskeletal disorder affecting every socioeconomic group of the world’s population. The lifetime risk of developing low back pain is about 60%–80%. The pooled prevalence and associated factors of low back pain have not yet been determined in Ethiopia. Thus, this study was aimed at assessing the overall prevalence of low back pain and its associated factors in Ethiopia. Methods. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar for observational studies reporting data on the prevalence and associated factors of low back pain was conducted. Relevant data were extracted with a standardized data extraction excel form. Stata 14 was employed for the meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed by Cochran’s Q test and I2 values of a forest plot. Publication bias was checked using a funnel plot and Egger’s test. A random-effects model was used in the analysis. Result. A total of thirty-two studies were included for the systematic review. Twenty-four and sixteen studies were used to pool the overall low back pain prevalence and associated factors, respectively. The overall pooled annual prevalence of low back pain in Ethiopia was estimated to be 54.05% (95% CI: 48.14–59.96). Age, sex, body mass index, work experience, working hours, lack of safety training, awkward working posture, work shift, prolonged standing, lifting heavy objects, sleeping disturbance, history of back trauma, previous medical history of musculoskeletal disorder, and lack of adequate rest interval at work were significantly associated with low back pain. Conclusion. The current systematic review and meta-analysis revealed a higher prevalence of lower back pain in Ethiopia. Most of the low back pain epidemiological studies conducted in Ethiopia focused on specific occupational settings, making pooling of data and comparison with other countries challenging. Thus, further general population studies are recommended.

The Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Pain in Africa: An Overview of Systematic Reviews With Meta-Analysis Including More Than 100 Distinct Primary Studies

“…Finally, six systematic reviews with meta-analyses were included. (Jegnie & Afework, 2021; Kasa et al, 2020; Mengistu et al, 2021, 2022; Morris et al, 2018; Tesfaye et al, 2023) Manually, we found four extra studies. However, these studies did not check our inclusion criteria and were excluded.…”

“…Low back pain: the pooled annual prevalence of low back pain was from higher to lower prevalence percentage: 64.07% (95%CI 58.68–69.46), I 2 = 94.2% (k= 19, N= 6,110, specific population: nurses),(Kasa et al, 2020) 59.0% (95%CI 52.0-65.0%), I 2 = 96.27% (k= 11, N= 5,805, specific population: schoolteachers),(Tesfaye et al, 2023) 57% (95%CI 51-63%), I 2 = unreported (k= 34, N= 17,210),(Morris et al, 2018) 54.2% (95%CI 48.2-60.0%), I 2 = 96.78% (k= 19, N= 8,993, specific country: Ethiopia),(Mengistu et al, 2021) and 54.05% (95%CI 48.14–59.96), I 2 = 97.6% (k= 24, N= 10,447, specific country: Ethiopia) ( Figure 7 ). (Jegnie & Afework, 2021) Upper back pain: the pooled annual prevalence of upper back pain was: 27.1% (95%CI 18.4-37.9), I 2 = 98.029% (k= 10, N= 4,284, specific country: Ethiopia) ( Figure 7 ). (Mengistu et al, 2021) Elbow pain: the pooled annual prevalence of elbow pain was: 19.7% (95%CI 12.3-30.1%), I 2 = 98.16% (k= 10, N= 4,294, specific country: Ethiopia) ( Figure 8 ).…”

“…(Jegnie & Afework, 2021; Kasa et al, 2020; Tesfaye et al, 2023) Four reviews applied sensitivity analyses. (Jegnie & Afework, 2021; Mengistu et al, 2021; Morris et al, 2018; Tesfaye et al, 2023) All reviews carried out subgroup meta-analyses. No reviews used GRADE for rating the certainty of evidence.…”

Occupational low back pain prevention capacity of nurses in China: A multicenter cross-sectional study

“…To our knowledge, there has been no study investigating nurses' ability to prevent occupational low back pain utilizing a scientific scale, limiting the value of assessing competency in establishing health promotion programs. Therefore, this study attempted to address three scientific questions: (1) what is the ability of nurses to prevent occupational low back pain? (2) which factors affect nurses' ability?…”

“…Occupational low back pain, defined as pain or discomfort from the lower edge of the 12th rib of the pelvis caused by occupational causes, has become one of the three primary occupational health concerns ( 1 ). Compared to other professions, nurses have a higher prevalence of occupational low back pain given the suffering of chronic lumbar strain and elevated spinal pressure at work ( 2 ), especially since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has increased the nurses' workloads ( 3 ).…”