Prevalence and Risk Factors for Low Back Pain Among Professional Drivers in Kano, Nigeria

Arch Environ Occup Health. 2015;70(5):251-5. doi: 10.1080/19338244.2013.845139.

Abstract

This study investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and impact of low back pain (LBP) among professional drivers in Nigeria. Two hundred male drivers aged 19-64 years were recruited in the study. Data regarding prevalence, individual risk factors, and impact of LBP were obtained. The prevalence rate of LBP was 73.5%, and LBP have affected the driving performance of up to 74% drivers. After adjustment for age, LBP prevalence was associated with driving for >15 hours/day (odds ratio [OR]; 95% confidence interval [CI]): (0.04; 0.01, 0.20), driving car (5.52; 1.55, 19.64), and driving bus (10.49; 2.63, 41.82). No association was found between LBP prevalence and years spent driving. The study found that high prevalence of LBP affected the performance of a substantial percentage of the participants.

Keywords: long-distance driving; low back pain; prevalence; professional drivers.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Automobile Driving*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Low Back Pain / epidemiology*
  • Low Back Pain / etiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Vehicles*
  • Nigeria / epidemiology
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Occupational Diseases / etiology
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult