Low Back Pain Among Nurses Working at Public Hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia

Gelana Fekadu Mijena; Biftu Geda; Merga Dheresa; Sagni Girma Fage

doi:10.2147/JPR.S255254

Low Back Pain Among Nurses Working at Public Hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia

J Pain Res. 2020 Jun 8:13:1349-1357. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S255254. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Gelana Fekadu Mijena¹, Biftu Geda², Merga Dheresa¹, Sagni Girma Fage¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia.
² Department of Nursing, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Meda Welabu University, Bale-Robe, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed the prevalence of low back pain and factors associated with it among nurses working at public hospitals in eastern Ethiopia.

Materials and methods: Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 1 to March 20, 2018 among randomly selected 404 nurses working in public hospitals of Harari region and Dire Dawa city administration. Six trained nurses collected the data through a self-administered data collection technique. All variables that yield p< 0.25 in bivariable logistic regression were subjects for multivariable logistic regression analysis. The direction and strength of statistical association were measured by odds ratio with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Finally, statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05.

Results: The 12-month prevalence of low back pain was 38.1% [95% CI: 32.7-42.7%]. It was more prevalent among females (65%). More than 5 years of work experience [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) =3.135; 95% CI (1.292-7.605)], manual lifting of weight >10kg [AOR=5.260; 95% CI (1.869-14.805)] and working in awkward posture [AOR=3.93; 95% CI (1.109-13.924)] were variables significantly associated with low back pain among nurses.

Conclusion: About two in five nurses working at public hospitals in Harari region and Dire Dawa city administration were suffering from low back pain. So, tailored intervention is needed to prevent nurses from further injury and retain experienced nurses.

Keywords: eastern Ethiopia; low back pain; nurses; public hospitals.

Grants and funding

Haramaya University has provided financial support for this study. We declare that the funding body has no role in the designing of the study, in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, in the writing of this manuscript and in the decision to submit for publication.