Email this article 
Hide
Show all
Original Research
Prevalence and factors associated with low back pain among nurses at a regional hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Submitted: 26 January 2018 | Published: 29 May 2018
About the author(s)
Thembelihle Dlungwane, Discipline of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaAnna Voce, Discipline of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Stephen Knight, Discipline of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Abstract
Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a public health problem worldwide and is a common cause of work-related disorder among workers, especially in the nursing profession. Recruitment and retention of nurses is a challenge, and the nursing shortage has been exacerbated by the burden of occupational injuries such as LBP and related disabilities. The physiotherapy clinical records revealed that caseload of nurses presenting for the management of LBP was increasing. The prevalence and factors associated with LBP were unclear.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design with an analytic component was implemented. Data were collected utilising a self-administered questionnaire to determine the prevalence and factors associated with LBP among nurses at a regional hospital. Bivariate analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with LBP.
Results: The point prevalence of current LBP in nurses was 59%. The highest prevalence was recorded among enrolled nurses (54%), respondents aged 30–39 (46%), overweight respondents (58%) and those working in obstetrics and gynaecology (49%). Bending (p = 0.002), prolonged position (p = 0.03) and transferring patients (p = 0.004) were strongly associated with LBP. Nurses with more than 20 years in the profession reported a high prevalence of LBP. The prevalence of LBP was higher among the participants who were on six-month rotations (76%) compared with those on yearly rotation (16%).
Conclusion: A high proportion of nurses reported to have LBP. Occupational factors are strongly associated with LBP. Education programmes on prevention and workplace interventions are required in order to reduce occupational injuries.
Keywords
Metrics
Total abstract views: 5631Total article views: 5135
Crossref Citations
1. Non-specific Low Back Pain Among Nurses in Qassim, Saudi Arabia
Abeer Abuzeid Atta Elmannan, Hajar A AlHindi, Reema I AlBaltan, Mariah S AlSaif, Nouf S Almazyad, Ruba K Alzurayer, Shouq Al-Rumayh
Cureus year: 2021
doi: 10.7759/cureus.19594
2. Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Associated Risk Factors among Nurses at King Abdulaziz University Hospital
Aishah Almaghrabi, Fatmah Alsharif
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health vol: 18 issue: 4 first page: 1567 year: 2021
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18041567
3. Contributing Factors Towards Low Back Pain Among Front Line Health Care Workers in Lahore, Pakistan
Razia Sultana, Shamikha Cheeme, Umaima Cheema, Sajida Parveen, Shahbaz Ahmed Cheema
Pakistan Journal of Health Sciences first page: 154 year: 2023
doi: 10.54393/pjhs.v4i02.629
4. Differences between fixed day shift nurses and rotating and irregular shift nurses in work-related musculoskeletal disorders: A literature review and meta-analysis
Wen-Pei Chang, Yu-Xuan Peng
Journal of Occupational Health vol: 63 issue: 1 year: 2021
doi: 10.1002/1348-9585.12208
5. Prevalence and Associated Factors of Low Back Pain Among Healthcare Professionals at University of Gondar Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: Cross-Sectional Study
Nini Asfaw Negash, Azmeraw Tadele, Abebaw Jember Ferede
Journal of Pain Research vol: Volume 15 first page: 1543 year: 2022
doi: 10.2147/JPR.S351987
6. Low back pain among nurses working in clinical settings of Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 years of studies
Ayele Semachew Kasa, Yinager Workineh, Emiru Ayalew, Worku Animaw Temesgen
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders vol: 21 issue: 1 year: 2020
doi: 10.1186/s12891-020-03341-y
7. Prevalence of musculoskeletal lower back pain among nurses
Andrea Gilchrist, Andrea Pokorná
Kontakt vol: 22 issue: 3 first page: 193 year: 2020
doi: 10.32725/kont.2020.020
8. Nurses back pain beliefs, coping strategies and factors associated with participant activation for self‐management of back pain
Loveness A. Nkhata, Yolandi Brink, Dawn Ernstzen, Quinette A. Louw
Journal of Advanced Nursing vol: 77 issue: 9 first page: 3772 year: 2021
doi: 10.1111/jan.14890
9. Low back pain among construction workers: a cross-sectional survey
V. Moodley, J.D. Pillay
PAIN, JOINTS, SPINE vol: 15 issue: 3 first page: 116 year: 2025
doi: 10.22141/pjs.15.3.2025.470
10. The Daily Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Work Engagement of Nurses: A ‘Shortitudinal’ Diary Study
Jo-Mari Liebenberg, Salomé E. Scholtz, Leon T. De Beer
Healthcare vol: 10 issue: 5 first page: 863 year: 2022
doi: 10.3390/healthcare10050863
11. Exposure to Occupational Hazards among Health Care Workers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review
Rajni Rai, Sonia El-Zaemey, Nidup Dorji, Bir Doj Rai, Lin Fritschi
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health vol: 18 issue: 5 first page: 2603 year: 2021
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18052603
12. The prevalence of occupational-related low back pain among working populations in sub-saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Yibeltal Assefa Atalay, Natnael Atnafu Gebeyehu, Kelemu Abebe Gelaw
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology vol: 19 issue: 1 year: 2024
doi: 10.1186/s12995-024-00438-1
13. Ergonomics and Occupational Health: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Nurses in a Tertiary Hospital in Botswana
Kagiso Kgakge, Paul Kiprono Chelule, Themba Geoffrey Ginindza
Healthcare vol: 13 issue: 1 first page: 83 year: 2025
doi: 10.3390/healthcare13010083
14. Significant occupational hazards faced by healthcare workers in Zimbabwe
Tapiwa Shabani, Jerie Steven, Takunda Shabani
Life Cycle Reliability and Safety Engineering vol: 13 issue: 1 first page: 61 year: 2024
doi: 10.1007/s41872-024-00245-x
15. Chronic musculoskeletal pain in municipal workers and associated psychosocial factors
Ss Mathenjwa, S Naidoo
Occupational Health Southern Africa vol: 30 issue: 3 first page: 133 year: 2024
doi: 10.62380/ohsa.2024.30.3.2
16. The burden of non-specific chronic low back pain among adults in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a protocol for a mixed-methods study
Morris Kahere, Themba Ginindza
BMJ Open vol: 10 issue: 9 first page: e039554 year: 2020
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039554
17. Low Back Pain and Its Risk Factors Among Nurses Working in East Bale, Bale, and West Arsi Zone Government Hospitals, Oromia Region, South East Ethiopia, 2021 –Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study
Daniel Ayane, Abulie Takele, Zegeye Feleke, Telila Mesfin, Salie Mohammed, Asnake Dido
Journal of Pain Research vol: Volume 16 first page: 3005 year: 2023
doi: 10.2147/JPR.S410803
18. Prevalence of low back pain and associated factors among nurses working in public hospitals of Hawassa city, southern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study
Debora Banga, Tinbete Samuel, Manaye Yihune, Gezahegn Bekele, Ezedin Molla, Yacob Abraham Borie, Ayantu Melese, Ayele Agena, Tomas Yeheyis
Heliyon vol: 10 issue: 9 first page: e30300 year: 2024
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30300
19. Nurses’ Attitudes Toward Holistic and Complementary Medicine in Pain Management
Alev Yildirim Keskin, Birsel Molu
Pain Management Nursing vol: 26 issue: 3 first page: 298 year: 2025
doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2024.11.008
20. The prevalence of low back pain and risk factors in academic teaching staff at King Abdulaziz University Jeddah:\\ A cross-sectional study
Mikhled Falah Maayah, Amr Almaz Abdel-aziem, Alaa Mohammad Arafah, Riziq Allah Gaowgzeh, Ziyad Neamatallah, Saad S. Alfawaz, Sunitha Mysore
Work vol: 74 issue: 3 first page: 1125 year: 2023
doi: 10.3233/WOR-211389
21. The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Low Back Pain Among Healthcare Workers in Asia
Ilmidin Ilmidin, Irene Florensia Situmeang, Nina Sarasnita
The Indonesian Journal of Occupational Safety and Health vol: 12 issue: 3 first page: 449 year: 2023
doi: 10.20473/ijosh.v12i3.2023.449-456
22. Strain-based work-to-family conflict as a predictor of lumbar and cervical pain in Tunisian nursing staff
Ines Rassas, Aouatef Mahfoudh, Amira Khelil, Charfeddine Amri, Neila Chaari, Adnène Henchi, Taoufik Khalfallah, Mohamed Akrout, Irtyah Merchaoui
International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics vol: 28 issue: 2 first page: 856 year: 2022
doi: 10.1080/10803548.2020.1833507
23. Frequency, severity, and associated risk factors of low back pain among nurses working in public tertiary care hospitals of Rawalpindi. A cross-sectional study
Waqas Ahmed Shehzad, Farrah Pervaiz, Mehwish Riaz, Azka Hafeez, Nusrat Batool, Sana Shaukat Siddiqui
Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation vol: 38 issue: 6 first page: 1362 year: 2025
doi: 10.1177/10538127251328532