Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among occupational drivers in Mubi, Nigeria.

Background. Studies on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among drivers in northern Nigeria are modest. Objectives. This survey determined the prevalence of risk factors, onset of WMSDs and experience of ergonomic training, coping strategies and treatment options adopted by drivers. Methods. This cross-sectional survey utilized an adapted version of the standardized Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire for examining WMSDs among drivers. Descriptive and χ2 statistics were employed to summarize and analyze data, respectively; the significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results. The prevalence of WMSDs among the respondents was 21.2%. The annual prevalence of the various WMSD domains was lower back pain (34%), neck pain (18.9%), upper back pain (22.3%), shoulder pain (18.2%), knee pain (14.9%), ankle pain (17%), wrist pain (7.5%), elbow pain (7.5%) and hip/thigh pain (15.1%). χ2 analysis showed that age (p = 0.006), marital status (p = 0.027) and educational level (p = 0.018) were significantly associated with prevalence of WMSDs. The majority of the drivers (92.5%) had no ergonomic training while 77.4% did not seek treatment. Conclusions. Adequate sensitization on health-seeking behavior and coping strategies through seminars and workshops should be conducted to improve health-seeking behavior and coping strategies of occupational drivers.

Patterns and Associated Factors of Physical Activity among Adolescents in Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: Understanding the context where adolescents' physical activity (PA) takes place could impact a more targeted approach to implement PA promotion and interventions in Africa. However, standardized data on adolescents' PA behaviour is lacking in Nigeria. We described PA patterns in the various domains (home, school, transport, leisure-time) and intensity categories (light-intensity PA, moderate- to vigorous- intensity physical activity [MVPA] and total PA), and their associations with sociodemographic factors and socioeconomic status (SES) among secondary school adolescents in Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a representative sample of 1006 secondary school adolescents (12-18 years, 50.4% girls) in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Self-reported PA was assessed with an adapted version of the Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents and Young Adults. Outcomes were weekly minutes (min/wk) of PA spent in the various domains and intensity categories. Multivariate ANOVA was used to examine associations of PA scores (domains and intensity levels) with adolescents' sociodemographic characteristics and SES, and track differences in PA scores between subgroups. RESULTS: The total sample reported most PA at school (1525 min/wk), the least during active transportation (210 min/wk), and only 37% engaged in 60 min of MVPA daily. Boys reported significantly more leisure-time PA (P<0.001), active transportation (P<0.001), MVPA (P = 0.023) and total PA (P = 0.003) than girls, while girls reported more school-based PA (P = 0.009), home-based PA (P<0.001) and light-intensity PA (P<0.001) than boys. Moderate-intensity PA (P = 0.024) and total PA (P = 0.049) were significantly higher in younger age group than in older group. Household car ownership was associated with less active transportation (P = 0.009), less moderate-intensity PA (P = 0.048) and with more leisure-time PA (P = 0.013). High parental SES was associated with more leisure-time PA (P = 0.002), more MVPA (P = 0.047) and less active transportation (P<0.001). Adolescents of various weight status differed significantly in their leisure-time PA (P<0.001), moderate-intensity PA (P = 0.011) and total PA (P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: The patterns and levels of physical activity among adolescents in Nigeria vary according to the adolescents' age, gender, weight status and SES. These findings have important public health implications for identifying subgroups of Nigerian adolescents that should be targeted for effective physical activity promoting interventions.

Perception of built environmental factors and physical activity among adolescents in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Understanding environmental factors related to adolescents' physical activity can inform intervention for obesity control and prevention, but virtually no study has been conducted in the African region, where adolescents' physical inactivity and chronic diseases rates are rising. This study assessed associations between perceived built environmental variables and adolescents' physical activity (active transportation to school and leisure-time moderate-to- vigorous physical activity), and the moderating effects of neighborhood-level income on association between environmental variables and physical activity among Nigerian boys and girls. METHODS: Participants were 1006 adolescents (12-19 years, 50.4% girls) randomly selected from 11 secondary schools in Maiduguri city, Nigeria. Physical activity and perceptions of environmental characteristics were assessed by validated self-report questionnaires. Separate gender-based, hierarchical multiple moderated linear regression analyses were used to examine the direct associations between the environmental perceptions and physical activity variables (active transportation and leisure-time MVPA; dependent variables), as well as the moderating effects of neighborhood-level income. RESULTS: Only in boys were direct associations and interaction effect of neighborhood-level income found. Access to destinations was positively associated with active transportation to school (ß = 0.18; CI = 0.67, 2.24); while residential density (ß = 0.10; CI = 0.01, 1.74) and availability/quality of infrastructures (ß = 0.14; CI = 0.49, 2.68) were positively associated with leisure-time MVPA. Also, neighborhood-level income moderated the association between perceived safety and leisure-time MVPA, with more perceived safety related to less MVPA (ß = -0.16; CI = -0.01, -0.70) in boys living in high SES neighborhood but marginally related to more MVPA (ß = 0.11; CI = -0.04, 2.88, p = 0.06) in boys living in low SES neighborhood. CONCLUSIONS: Few environmental attributes were associated with adolescents' physical activity in Nigeria. Future studies are needed to determine the multidimensional correlates of physical activity that may be relevant for both adolescents' boys and girls in Nigeria.