Work related musculoskeletal pain among teachers in selected public secondary schools in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

The impact of musculoskeletal pain specifically within the teaching profession has not been given sufficient attention in the literature especially in Nigeria. This study determined the prevalence of work related musculoskeletal pain among public secondary school teachers in Ife-Central Local Government Area (LGA), Osun State, Nigeria.Nordic Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire was used as the survey instrument.A total of 240 questionnaires were distributed but 219 questionnaires were returned yielding a 92% response rate.The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result shows that prevalence of work related musculoskeletal pain (WRMSP) was 58%. Work Related Musculoskeletal Pain occurred mostly in theshoulder (31.1%), neck (28.3%), and wrist/hand (25.6%). High prevalence of WRMSP were reported in females (66.1%) and 24.4% of teachers with WRMSP were less than 5years of teaching experience.Prolonged standing, walking and sitting were activities that predispose respondents to WRSP. It can be concluded from the study that more than average public secondary school teachers had WRMSP and shoulder joints, neck and wrist joints are majorly affected. Education programmes on prevention and coping strategies for musculoskeletal pain are recommended for teachers in order to avoid or decrease WRMSP.

Keywords: Musculoskeletal pain (MSP), Secondary School Teachers, Nordic Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire, Shoulder joint, Neck