Abstract

A cross sectional in South West Nigeria to determined the prevalence and risk factors for low back pain within the community. Nine hundred adults were selected using a multistage sampling technique. A questionnaire was administered which sought information on demographic characteristics, smoking status, presence of low back pain in the last 12 months and at the time of the survey and the duration and severity of the low back pain. Three hundred and sixty one (40% of the population) had low back pain in the last 12 months while (303) 33% had low back pain at the time of the study. The prevalence among males was higher than among females; 44.7% and 35.6% respectively. The prevalence of low back pain was highest mong farmers (mostly men) and lowest among petty traders (mostly women). The severity and mean duration of low back pain was also highest among farmers. Risk factors highlighted on bivariate analysis were male sex and farming as an occupational category but neither of these were sustained in multivariate analysis, an indication that male preponderance in this study is related to occupational factors. This study concludes that low back pain is prevalent in rural income communities and may occur at levels similar to those reported in high income countries.