Prevalence and factors associated with low back pain in schoolchildren in Cameroon, sub‐Saharan Africa

Abstract

Background Data on the prevalence and factors associated with low back pain (LBP) in schoolchildren are scarce in Africa, particularly in sub‐Saharan Africa. Objectives To assess the prevalence and factors associated with LBP in schoolchildren in Cameroon. Patients and methods We performed a cross‐sectional study in 10 randomly selected schools (public and private) in Douala, Cameroon. Using a self‐administrated questionnaire, sociodemographic, usual physical activity, and clinical data were collected and all the schoolbags were weighted. Informed consent was obtained from the parents. Statistical significance was established at P < .05. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with LBP. Results We included 1075 schoolchildren (543 boys, 50.5%). The prevalence of LBP was 12.3% (132 children: 81 girls and 51 boys). The mean age was 11 ± 1 years (range, 8‐14 years). Body mass index was normal in 110 schoolchildren (83.4%). Sixteen schoolchildren had already met a physician for LBP. Among the factors evaluated, those associated with LBP were female gender, doing competitive sport, sitting position, and LBP in at least 1 parent. The mean weight of the schoolbags was 4.9 ± 1.9 kg. We had 99 children with LBP and a schoolbag weight ≥10% of their body weight. No association was found between the weight of schoolbag and LBP. Conclusion LBP is common in Cameroonian schoolchildren, where 12.3% suffer from it. The weight of schoolbags was not associated with LBP. However, female gender, competitive sport, sitting position, and parental history of LBP were significantly associated with its occurrence.

Prevalence of Postural Changes in School Children and Adolescents

“…The author concluded that there a correlation between excessive weight carried in the backpack with the appearance of postural changes and pain among students. In the study by Lekpa et al (2021) 15 who evaluated 1070 schoolchildren in Douala, Cameroon, no correlations were observed between the weight of backpacks and the presence of low back pain. In study, the mean weight of backpacks below 10% of the students' body weight was also found, and the factors associated with low back pain were female sex, practice of competitive sports, sitting position and low back pain in the evaluated family members.…”

Main characteristics of preventive postural hygiene training programs in the educational field

“…Back pain was associated with prolonged sitting (Kemta et al, 2021;Masiero et al, 2021) and incorrect sitting posture (Minghelli, 2020a;Meziat-Filho et al, 2017). Minghelli (2020a) highlights the importance of this aspect, given the high number of hours' students spend sitting in schools.…”

“…Other risk factors pointed out by the scientific literature are: incorrect adjustments of school furniture (Ayed et al, 2019;Dianat et al, 2017); posture during the handling of electronic devices and the time spent using them (Vitta et al, 2021;Masiero et al, 2021;Bento et al, 2020;Minghelli, 2020a;Ayed et al, 2019); time spent watching television (Santos et al, 2021;Noll et al, 2021;Bento et al, 2020;Ayed et al, 2019;Oka et al, 2019;Paranjape e Ingole, 2018;Meziat-Filho et al, 2017); lack of adequate rest (Masiero et al, 2021;Muñoz-Serrano et al, 2021); high BMI (González-Gálvez et al, 2020;Spiteri et al, 2017); presence of lumbar hyperlordosis (Sainz de Baranda et al, 2020b); family history of back pain (Kemta et al, 2021;Noll et al, 2021;Masiero et al, 2021;Oka et al, 2019;Noormohammadpour et al, 2019;Dianat et al, 2017); passive smoking (Noormohammadpour et al, 2019).…”

“…The incidence of back pain is directly linked to the prolonged use of school bags (Ayed et al, 2019;Khalil y Alrubaey, 2019;Dianat et al, 2017) and to the weight of school bags (Santos et al, 2021;Kedra et al, 2021;Layuk et al, 2020;Kalki et al, 2020;Shuhaimi y Rahman, 2020;Ayed et al, 2019;Noll et al, 2021;Assiri et al, 2020;Akbar et al, 2019;Rodríguez-Oviedo et al, 2018;Kiat et al, 2018;Hadziomerovic et al, 2018;Paranjape e Ingole, 2018;Spiteri et al, 2017). Although there are studies that found no relationship with school bag weight (Kemta et al, 2021;Oka et al, 2019;Dianat et al, 2017).…”

Clinical presentation and imaging findings in juvenile-onset back pain: a ten-year hospital-based retrospective analysis in Douala (Cameroon)

“…The previous African studies published on JOBP were surveys or cross-sectional studies performed in schools without medical imaging to obtain a differential diagnosis ( 9 , 14 – 17 ). Only one study included clinical examination in its design, but no medical imaging was performed ( 9 ).…”