Rassegna bibliografica

Occupational Medicine (Oxford Journals). Vol. 63, Iss. 2, March 2013

Low back pain among textile workers: a cross-sectional study


Riassunto

Background Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most prevalent occupational health problems in industrialized countries. Little is known about the epidemiology of LBP in developing countries.

Aims To determine the prevalence of LBP among Nepalese textile workers and to investigate the influence of exposure to mechanical and other factors on LBP reporting.

Methods Interviewers completed questionnaires with study subjects, and work-related mechanical exposures were measured by self-completed questionnaires. Associations of LBP with mechanical factors and somatic symptoms were determined by logistic regression and reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results Nine hundred and thirty-eight workers took part, a participation rate of 92%. The 1 month period prevalence of LBP was 35% (n = 324), being higher in females than males (45% versus 28%; P < 0.001). Several work-related mechanical factors were associated with increased odds of reporting LBP: lifting heavy weights with one hand (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.1–2.8), pushing weights (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.2–2.3 and pulling weights (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.1–2.1). No association was found with working posture. Strong associations were found for reporting one (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.7–3.4) or two somatic symptoms (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.4–5.1). On multivariable analysis, reporting of somatic symptoms (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.5–5.4), female gender (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.5–3.1) and increasing age were significantly associated with increased risk of reporting LBP (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.2–2.5), but no associations were found with mechanical factors.

Conclusions This study suggests that mechanical load may not be the leading cause of LBP and adds to evidence that psychological factors play an important role in LBP in non-industrialized countries.

Keywords

Low back pain, Nepal, occupational, textile

Articoli correlati che potrebbero interessarti

Whole-body Vibration Exposure Intervention among Professional Bus and Truck Drivers: A Laboratory Evaluation of Seat-suspension Designs

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. Vol. 12, Iss. 6, June 2015

Whole-body vibration and the risk of low back pain and sciatica: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Vol. 88, Iss. 4, May 2015

Psycho-behavioural risks of low back pain in railway workers

Occupational Medicine (Oxford Journals). Vol. 64, Iss. 5, July 2014