Abstract:
Background: Low back pain is the most frequent type of musculoskeletal disorder with a very
high prevalence globally as well as nationally. Even though with high prevalence and great
impact on individual life, there is limited evidence that showed the magnitude and factors
associated with low back pain among primary and secondary school teachers in Jimma town,
Ethiopia.
Objective: This study aims to assess the magnitude of low back pain and associated factors
among primary and secondary school teachers of Jimma town.
Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 11, to June 11, 2022.
A total of 305 participants were recruited and reached using simple random sampling method.
Data were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. The collected
data were checked for completeness, cleaned, coded and entered into Epidata version 4.6 and
exported into SPSS 23 for further coding and analysis. Data were summarized using mean,
frequency, percentage or proportion, and represented using text, table, graph accordingly. Odds
ratio alongside 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated to measure the strength of the
association between variables of interest. Level of statistical significance was declared at p value
≤ 0.05.
Result: The life time magnitude of low back pain was 57.7 %, 95% CI :( 52.8%, 63.6%). Of this
83%, 95% CI :( 77.3%, 88.6%) teachers had LBP with in twelve months time. Factors associated
with low back pain were Being male (AOR =0.14; 95% CI: (0.072-0.26), age < 30 years
(AOR=0.3, 95% CI :( 0.14-0.48), Sleeping hours <6 hours (AOR=3.54, 95% CI; (1.86-6.72),
prolonged standing (AOR= 5.55, 95%CI: (2.73-9.76),
Conclusion: This study showed high magnitude of low back pain among teachers, when
compared to Addis Ababa. Sex, age, sleeping hours, prolonged standing and were factors
significantly associated with low back pain. Jimma town education Bureau needs to introduce
prevention interventions.
