Prevalence of Low Back Pain Complaints among Commercial Motorcyclists in Kano, NorthWest, Nigeria

Abstract

motorcycling has become the self heaven to most unemployed youths in Nigeria, especially in Kano, Northwest, Nigeria. Data on the prevalence of Low Back Pain (LBP) on commercial motorcyclists is unknown. This study examined the prevalence of LBP among commercial motorcyclists in urban Kano, northwest, Nigeria. We interviewed 600 commercial motorcyclists using self structured questionnaire. Information retrieved from respondents was on personal data and work related information on LBP. Percentages and frequencies were used to summarize the data obtained. Out of the 600 commercial motorcyclists interviewed about 36% reported
LBP. The result indicated that age, duration in years of practice as a commercial motorcyclists and duration in hours/day spent riding are all attributable to frequency of LBP among respondents. Our finding shows that duration in years as motorcyclists, duration in hours/day and age commercial motorcyclists are typical factors influencing the frequency of LBP among commercial motorcyclists. We therefore, advocate further studies to investigate how these factors individually and collectively predispose to LBP.

Key words: Occupational hazard; low back pain; commercial motorcyclists