Prevalence of low back pain and related factors among nurses at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kigali (CHUK)

Abstract

Objective: Nurses are vulnerable to Low Back Pain (LBP) because they counteract many problems in their workplace that limit them to give up back stressors. The aim of the current study was to identify the prevalence and risk factors of LBP among nurses at CHUK.
Methods: A Cross-sectional quantitative study design with a self-administered questionnaire was used.
Results: The prevalence of LBP among nurses working at CHUK was 70%. The current study revealed that there is no significant relationship (P > 0.05) between LBP and various individual risk factors including age, gender, BMI, and the seniority of employment. It was found that the department with higher number of nurses who suffered from LBP is Internal Medicine. The professional factors like the department of work, hours spent in sitting and standing, heavy lifting, and extreme bending are all significantly associated with LBP (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of LBP among nurses at CHUK, and the contributing factors include heavy lifting, standing for long time, and extreme bending. Local and national strategies towards the reduction and prevention of LBP amongst health workers, especially in the nursing population are suggested.

Keywords: Low Back Pain, Prevalence, Risk Factor, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kigali (CHUK).