Socio-Demographic Characteristic of Low Back Pain among Nurses Working at a Medical College Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is recognized as a major public health problem around the world and is one of the most frequently discussed health conditions among medical professionals, particularly in the field of nursing. In addition to the nature of nursing work, body mechanics and life style factors, nurses’ socio-demographic characteristics plays a significant role in the causation of this condition. As a result, the purpose of this study was to investigate the socio-demographic characteristics of nurses so that policymakers and healthcare practitioners could gain a better understanding into the mitigation of LBP among nurses. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 80 nurses working at Mugda Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Face to face interview was conducted through a self-administered questionnaire which had three parts relatable to socio-demographic profile, screening of musculoskeletal problems and pain intensity. Both descriptive and inferential statistics was applied through SPSS to measure the socio-demographic characteristics of nurses and other major variables. Results: Results showed that the mean age and BMI was 37.53 years and 26.77, respectively. Further, 1.68 person, 82754.72 Bangladeshi taka and 16.17 years were found as the mean number of children, family monthly income and working experiences of nurses, respectively. BMI, marital status, number of children and working experiences were found to be significantly (p<.05) associated with the low back pain. Conclusion: Regardless of socioeconomic status, all nurses experience some level of low back pain. However, BMI, marital status, job years, and the number of children all have an impact on the development of low back pain in nurses.