Prevalence of low-back pain among nurses in Mansoura

ABSTRACT

This study was performed on 307 nurses working in four hospitals in Mansoura Mansoura Univ. Hospital, Mansoura General Hospital, Mansoura fever hospital and Mansoura Chest hospitals. 63 females of similar age who perform clerical activities were included in the study as controls were included in the study a controls. The aim is to determine the prevalence of low-back pain and to assess risk factors predisposing to its development. 46.9% of nurses reported that they had low-back pain. 73.6% of this back pain was occupational. The results showed correlation between back pain and various nursing activities. The relation between back pain and individual risk factors such as age, sex, anthropometry, musculoskeletal abnormalities, movement of lumbar segment of spine and psychological factors was discussed. The evidence relating to individual risk factor is not conclusive except that those who have low-back pain before had been found to be more likely to have it again