PREVALENCE OF LOW BACK PAIN AMONG MALE SCHOOL TEACHERS IN AL-MADINAH AL-MUNAWARA CITY IN 2021-2022

Background:School teachers are at high risk of low back pain as a result of their work nature, which include long standing, prolonged sitting, bending their posture and preparing for lessons.

Objectives:To estimate the prevalence and identify the associated factors of low back pain among male school teachers.

Subjects And Methods:A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between October of 2021 and March of 2022 among secondary and high male school teachers working at Al-madinah Al- munawara city, Saudi Arabia. The data were collected by using the self-administered valid Arabic version of Oswestry Disability index questionnaire.

Results:The study included 362 teachers. The age of 41.7% of them ranged between 41 and 50 years. The prevalence of low back pain among male teachers was 35.1%. Teachers aged between 51 and 60 years, those who sleep on the average <6 hours/day, more experienced teachers, those who work on the average <10 hours/week, and did not work standing most of the time were more likely to have LBP compared to others. Disability due to low back pain was moderate or severe among 14.1% and 2.8% of male school teachers, respectively.

Conclusion:LBP is a relatively common problem among male teachers with a considerable proportion of them had moderate or severe disability.