Prevalence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Neck, Shoulders and Low-Back Pain in Secondary-School Children

• Published in: Journal of research in health sciences Vol. 19; no. 1; p. e00440
• Main Authors: Ben Ayed, Houda, Yaich, Sourour, Trigui, Maroua, Ben Hmida, Mariem, Ben Jemaa, Maissa, Ammar, Achraf, Jedidi, Jihene, Karray, Raouf, Feki, Habib, Mejdoub, Yosra, Kassis, Mondher, Damak, Jamel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Iran Hamadan University of Medical Sciences 26-03-2019
• Subjects: Adolescent; Back; Body Mass Index; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ergonomics; Female; Humans; Leisure Activities; Logistic Models; Low Back Pain - drug therapy; Low Back Pain - epidemiology; Low Back Pain - etiology; Male; Musculoskeletal Pain - drug therapy; Musculoskeletal Pain - epidemiology; Musculoskeletal Pain - etiology; Neck; Neck Pain - drug therapy; Neck Pain - epidemiology; Neck Pain - etiology; Original; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Schools; Screen Time; Shoulder; Shoulder Pain - drug therapy; Shoulder Pain - epidemiology; Shoulder Pain - etiology; Students; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tunisia - epidemiology; Tunisia; Musculoskeletal pain; Adolescents; Schools; Risk factors
• ISSN: 2228-7795; 2228-7809
• DOI: 10.15171/jrhs.2019.07

Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) is a public health problem among school-adolescents. This study aimed to identify the prevalence, risk factors and consequences of neck, shoulders and low-back pain among school-adolescents.
A cross-sectional study.
School-adolescents aged from 12 to 18 years between October 2017 and February 2018 in South of Tunisia were recruited. Eligible participants were randomly selected and were asked to respond a four-section questionnaire. Factors independently associated with MSP were determined through multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Among 1221 enrolled subjects, shoulders, low-back and neck pain were reported in 43%, 35.8% and 32%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that independent risk factors of neck pain were female gender (Adjusted odds ratio AOR=1.55; P=0.002), using computer ≥4 hours/week (AOR=1.50; P=0.010), too low desk (AOR=2.30; P<0.001) and carrying schoolbag ≥60 minutes (AOR=1.58; P=0.008). Female gender (AOR=3.30; P<0.001), BMI ≥25 Kg/m2 (AOR=1.6; P=0.018), playing videogames ≥2 hours/day (AOR=2.37; P<0.001) and schoolbag weight to body weight ≥10% (AOR=1.46; P=0.026) were independently associated with shoulders pain. For low back-pain, independent risk factors were high-school grade (AOR=2.70; P<0.001), playing videogames ≥2 hours/day (AOR=1.83; P<0.001), watching TV≥12 hours/week (AOR=1.5; P=0.016), too low seat backrest (AOR=1.4; P=0.005) and too far seat-to-black (board) distance (AOR=1.5; P=0.041). School-adolescents consumed drugs for MSP in 19.5%, had sleep disturbance in 34% and aggressive behaviors in 22.8%.
The prevalence of MSP was substantially high among school-adolescents and their associated risk factors included sociodemographic factors, leisure activities and classroom furniture. An ergonomic specific and behavior-based school program is urgently needed.