Prevalence and individual risk factors associated with non-specific low back pain among secondary school adolescents in Harare, Zimbabwe

• Main Author: Chiwaridzo, Matthew
• Other Authors: Naidoo, Nirmala
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: University of Cape Town 2014
• Subjects: Physiotherapy
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/3007

Includes abstract. === Includes bibliographical references. === Traditionally, non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) has been described as an important public health issue among adults but a rare phenomenon in the young. However, recent epidemiological studies have provided evidence that NSLBP affects all age groups. In adolescents, the literature has shown that the prevalence has increased tremendously during the past two decades. The reasons for this remain unclear. In addition, there is substantial evidence to suggest some adolescents will experience severe episodes of recurrent NSLBP associated with adverse consequences such as long-term chronicity into adulthood, reduced health-related quality of life, and school absenteeism. In-spite of such evidence, no studies have been conducted in Zimbabwe to investigate the subjective presence of NSLBP symptoms among school-aged adolescents and to screen adolescents in schools affected by the condition in an attempt to identify the associated risk factors. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence (lifetime and point) and the one-year prevalence of recurrent NSLBP. In addition, the study aimed at identifying the individual risk factors associated with the report of recurrent NSLBP. A further aim was to compare the health-related quality of life between adolescents with recurrent NSLBP and those without.