Prevalence and Associated Factors of Low Back Pain Among Bank Workers in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia

Introduction

The term low back pain (LBP) can be defined as chronic or acute pain of the lumbosacral, buttock, or upper leg region, and low-back disorders are associated with work-related awkward postures.¹ It interferes with quality of life and work performance.² LBP is a very common health problem that most people experience at some point in their working life.³ It has been considered as one of the most costly disorders among the working population in developed as well as in developing countries.^4,5

According to the 2010 Global Burden of Disease Study, LBP was identified among the top ten diseases and the sixth most important contributor to the global disease burden (death and disability).⁶ It also has a greater impact on global health than malaria, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, obstructive pulmonary diseases, tuberculosis, diabetes, and lung cancer.⁷ Among many office workers, LBP results in sick leave, substantial levels of disability, and significant restrictions on usual activity and participation including limitations of work activity.⁸

The nature of office work and the office environment has been associated with increased risks of LBP.⁹ The working style of bank workers is sedentary mostly and the alignment of their chairs, table, and computers is not designed based on their health aspects. Due to prolonged sitting and standing the stress on their lower back increases and finally leads to LBP.¹⁰ LBP among office workers including bankers leads to a negative economic impact, which includes an increased absence from work and lost productivity.¹¹ It is causing global implications to various sectors like economical, societal, and public health.¹²

The lifetime incidence of LBP was 58–84% globally which affects as much as 80% of people in developed countries.¹³ A study conducted in Kuwait among computer users who work in Bank showed that 80% of workers suffered from at least 1 attack of a musculoskeletal disorder in the previous year, and 57% suffered from attacks during the previous week. LBP among bank workers accounted for more than half of all musculoskeletal system disorders (MSDs).¹⁴

Among the African continent, the prevalence of LBP is also increasing, but the lack of information regarding this in developing countries is a major limitation.¹⁵ A study conducted in Kigali, Rwanda showed that the prevalence of low back pain among the bank staff was 45.8%.¹⁶ A study conducted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia showed that the lower back was the most affected body region (54.3%) than other work-related musculoskeletal disorders among bank workers.¹⁷ Obesity, smoking, weight lifting, stooping, prolonged sitting, poor fitness level, sedentary lifestyle, and awkward posture at work were identified as the factors most associated with LBP.¹⁸

Studies conducted in different parts of Ethiopia regarding LBP focus on industrial and hospital staff. But there is a lack of information on the prevalence and associated factors of LBP among bank workers. Knowing the prevalence and associated factors of low back pain helps to design preventive activities. Therefore, this study is intended to assess the prevalence and associated factors of LBP among bank workers in Gondar city, northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

Study Design and Period

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was employed from 20th October to 10th November 2020.

Study Setting

The study was conducted in Gondar city administration. Gondar city is located about 727 km away from Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, 180 km away from Bahir Dar the capital city of Amhara Regional State. Gondar city has a total area of 192.3Sq.KM. The city has a total population of 338, 646 peoples with 256,041 people whose age is between 18 and 65 years old in 6 sub-cities and 27 Kebele with a total of 78,772 households. In the city, there are a total of 57 banks of them 20 are public.

Study Participants

All bank workers in Gondar city who worked for at least six months were included in the study. A bank worker who had any previous illness and/or injuries that might have contributed to LBP, female workers who were pregnant, workers who had a past medical history of LBP, workers who had past slipping/fall history, and seriously ill were excluded from the study.

Sample Size Determination

The sample size was computed using a single population proportion formula by taking the proportion of low back pain 54.3%,¹⁷ 95% confidence interval, and a 5% margin of error. The final sample size was 296 after using the correction formula and adding a 10% non-response rate.

Sampling Technique and Procedure

A stratified simple random sampling technique was employed to recruit the required participants for the study. First, we stratified participants into governmental bank workers and private bank workers, and then we allocated the required sample for each stratum proportionally. Finally, we selected study participants from each stratum by simple random sampling.

Operational Definitions

Bank workers: Employees that perform financial activities that include supervisor, customer service, public relations, accounting clerks, loan officers, and managers.

Low back pain: A bank worker who had a perceived ache, pain, or discomfort localized below the coastal margin and above the inferior gluteal fold during the last 12 months was considered as having LBP.

Perform physical activity: A bank worker was considered physically active if he/she exercises or doing any kind of sports activity including walking at least 150 min/week in a planned, structured, and repetitive manner.²⁷

Body mass index (BMI): < 18.5 = underweight, 18.5–24.9 = normal, 25.0–29.9 = overweight, and ≥ 30.0 = obese.²⁸

Fixed postures: Bank workers perform activities by prolonged sitting in a limited space for 2 or more hours without changing positions for the last 12 months.²⁹

Stress: Participants who score 26 and above on the workplace stress measurement scale were considered as having stress.³⁰

Data Collection Instruments and Procedures

Data were collected using a structured pre-tested self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire contains 36 questions arranged into five sections; the first section contains seven questions regarding the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants, the second section contains three questions regarding behavioral related characteristics of the participants, the third section contains thirteen work-related questions, the fourth section contains five low back pain-related questions, and the last section contains eight workplace stress-related questions. The Workplace Stress Scale from the American Institute of Stress which contains eight statements about how bank workers usually feel was used to assess stress. Data were collected with the help of four trained BSc nurse data collectors and two MSc nurse supervisors. A written guideline was given to the data collectors to assure that every participant received the same directions and information. The anonymity of the participant was kept by informing them not to write their name. The instruments were distributed among the study population, after guarantying their willingness to take part in the study, and then it was collected by the data collectors after completion. During data collection data collectors and supervisors followed the recommended precautions to prevent COVID-19.

Data Processing and Analysis

Following data collection, each questionnaire was reviewed for completeness and consistency and possible amendments were done by investigators. Data were entered into Epi-info version 7 and transferred into SPSS version 21 and then, data cleaning and coding were done to make it ready for analysis. The results of the descriptive statistics were expressed as mean, standard deviation, percentage, and frequency using tables, graphs, and charts. Binary logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with LBP. Those variables with a p-value less than or equal to 0.2 from the bivariable analysis were a candidate for multivariable analysis. The multivariable analysis was used to control potential confounders and to declare the significance of the association, p-value <0.05 was used. Moreover, the magnitude of the association between different independent variables with dependent variables was measured using odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval.

Data Quality Assurance

The data collection instrument was prepared in English and translated into the local language, Amharic, and back-translated to English by language experts to check for consistency. A pretest was done on 5% of the total sample size on areas that are not selected for the study. Necessary amendments were made upon the identification of ambiguity in the questionnaire. We recruited, trained, and assigned four BSc nurses and two MSc nurses for data collection and supervision respectively. One day of training was given to both the data collectors and supervisors. The training included a discussion about the objective of the study, the technique of data collection, the content of the questionnaire, and the issue of confidentiality of the participants.

Results

Socio-Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents

A total of 285 bank workers participated in this study, with a 96.3% response rate. Nearly two-thirds (65.6%) of the respondents were male and 60.4% of them were married. The mean age of the respondents was 30.24 ± 4.95 SD years and more than half (53.7%) of them fall in the age range of 20–29 years. More than three-fourths (78.9%) of the respondents were BSc holders and 73.3% of them were costumer caregivers. More than two-thirds (67%) of the respondents were in the normal range of body mass index (BMI). Nearly one fifth (21.1%) of the respondents had work-related stress (Table 1).

Table 1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Bank Workers in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia (N= 285)

Behavioral and Work-Related Characteristics of the Respondents

Nearly all (98.9%) and more than half (54.4%) of the respondents did not smoke a cigarette and drink alcohol respectively. Nearly two-thirds (66.3%) of the participants did not perform a physical exercise in their daily life (Table 2). Almost all (97.9%) of the respondents used a computer. Among computer users, the majority (88.4%) of the participants used a desktop computer and more than half (57.2%) of them used a computer for 1–5 years. Nearly three-fourths (74.7%) of the respondents used movable chairs and 71.6% of the chairs they used had an armrest. Two-thirds (66.0%) of the participants did their work in a sitting position and 61.8% of them used back bent position during their normal sit. More than half (54.4%) of the respondents lift objects and 72.3% of them get a break sometimes during their working time (Table 3).

Table 2 Behavioral Related Characteristics of Bank Workers in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia (N= 285)

Table 3 Work-Related Characteristics of Bank Workers in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia, (N= 285)

Prevalence and Characteristics of Low Back Pain

The prevalence of LBP among bank workers in the last 12 months was 55.4% with a 95% CI (49.5%, 61.1%). Nearly three-fourths (72.8%) of the respondents did not stop working because of their LBP, 44.3% of them reported that prolonged sitting worse their pain and rest was a reliever of the pain for 74.7% of the participants (Table 4).

Table 4 Low Back Pain-Related Characteristics of Bank Workers in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia (N= 158)

Factors Associated with Low Back Pain

Using bivariable analysis the factors significantly associated with LBP were being female, working in a government bank, work-related stress, lack of physical activity, using a fixed chair, having a chair without an armrest, working in a bending position, sitting in a back twisted position, and lifting heavy objects. In multivariable analysis, being female, work-related stress, lack of physical activity, using a fixed chair, having a chair without an armrest, and lifting heavy objects were factors significantly associated with LBP.

Female bank workers were nearly three times at higher risk of developing LBP than males [AOR= 3.05; 95% CI (1.60, 5.82)]. The odds of LBP were nearly five times higher among bank workers who had work-related stress as compared with those who had no stress [AOR= 4.94; 95% CI (2.29, 10.67)]. Bank workers who did not perform physical activity were nearly three times at higher risk of developing LBP than bank workers who perform physical activity [AOR= 2.96; 95% CI (1.59, 5.53)]. Bank workers who were sitting on a fixed chair were nearly eleven times at higher risk of developing LBP than bank workers who were sitting on a movable chair [AOR= 11.29; 95% CI (4.73, 27.01)]. The odds of LBP was nearly three times higher among bank workers who had not a chair with an armrest than their counterparts [AOR= 2.65; 95% CI (1.37, 5.12)]. Bank workers who lifted heavy objects were nearly two times at higher risk of developing LBP as compared with their counterparts [AOR= 2.42; 95% CI (1.34, 4.37)] (Table 5).

Table 5 Bivariable and Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis of Factors Associated with LBP Among Bank Workers in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia (N= 285)

Discussion

Low back pain is a common public health problem worldwide especially for sedentary occupations.³¹ The prevalence of LBP among bank workers varies depends on the study population and the countries where the study was conducted. The result of the current study revealed that 55.4% of the respondents suffer from LBP. This means that back pain has a high prevalence among bank workers which needs immediate health intervention. The finding of this study is in line with studies conducted in southern India 51.8%,²¹ Pakistan 52.4%,²³ Kuwait 51.1%,¹⁴ Province china 49.7%,³² Ghana 61.7%,²⁵ and Addis Ababa Ethiopia 54.3%.¹⁷ The prevalence of LBP in this study is higher than studies conducted in Punjab India 40.4%,¹⁹ Hong Kong China 30.6%,²² and Rwanda 45.8%.¹⁶ The possible reason for this difference might be due to the difference in year of study, sample size, and definition of back pain used in each study. Besides, Ethiopian workers mostly used their backs to perform different activities which made them more prone to LBP. However, it is lower than studies conducted in Bengal India 70%,²⁰ Nigeria 84.6%,²⁴ and Mekelle Ethiopia 65.5%.²⁶ The possible justification for this difference might be that currently, most bank users prefer technology-related services like an automated teller machine (ATM) and mobile banking instead of direct seeking service from bank workers. As a result, it might reduce the work load of bank workers and work related LBP.

Work-related stress, lack of physical activity, using a fixed chair, having a chair without an armrest, and lifting heavy objects were the factors significantly associated with LBP.

Female bank workers were nearly three times at higher risk of developing LBP than males. This finding was supported by studies conducted in Kuwait, Kumas Ghana, Logo, southwest Nigeria, and Addis Ababa.^14,17,24,25 This might be related to conditions specific to women like premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysmorphic disorder, dysmenorrhea, and pregnancy.³³ It might also be due to the heightened pain sensitivity among women, menstrual cycle fluctuations, and biological response to pregnancy and childbearing as well as the physical stress of child-rearing that makes them more prone to LBP than men.³⁴ The odds of LBP were nearly five times higher among bank workers who had work-related stress as compared with their counterparts. This finding was supported by studies conducted in Kigali; Rwanda, Addis Ababa; Ethiopia, and Mekelle Tigray; Ethiopia.^10,16,17 This might be attributed to an increased risk of negative health outcomes resulted from work-related stress.³⁵ Emotional exhaustion, high emotional demands, and poor psychosocial safety climate are some indicators of stress which significantly intensify the risk of musculoskeletal pain including LBP.³⁶ Bank workers who did not perform physical activity were nearly three times at higher risk of developing LBP than bank workers who perform physical activity. This finding was supported by a study conducted in Mekelle Tigray; Ethiopia.¹⁰ This might be because their lack of physical activity leads to inadequate flexibility and weak muscles in the back, pelvis, and thighs, increasing the risks of developing LBP.³⁷ Lack of physical activity resulting from the sedentary lifestyle leads to the reduction of muscular power and strength as well as the reduced ability of the vertebral disc to maintain a normal concentration of water.³⁸ Lack of physical activity or prolonged inactivity can increase the risk of developing LBP as the back becomes stiff, weak, and deconditioned.

The type of chair was another factor significantly associated with LBP. Bank workers who sit on a fixed chair and a chair without an armrest had higher odds of developing LBP. This finding was supported by studies conducted in Kigali; Rwanda and Addis Ababa; Ethiopia.^16,17 This might be due to the muscle has no chance to relax and the flow of blood may be restricted when workers work in a fixed position.³⁹ Similarly, Bank workers who lifted heavy objects were nearly two times at higher risk of developing LBP as compared with their counterparts. This finding was supported by studies conducted in South Africa and South India.^18,40 This might be due to the holding and moving of heavy loads requires high muscular force which may lead to acute overload and/or fatigue of muscles.³⁹ Repeated lifting of heavy objects leads to back muscles and spinal ligaments strain. The constant strain of the back resulted from lifting in a poor physical condition can cause painful muscle spasms which increases the risk of developing LBP.⁴¹

The study has some limitations: The study was based on subjective responses using questionnaires that may be prone to reporting bias because of the respondent’s interpretation of the questionnaire or desire to report their feeling.

Conclusion

The prevalence of LBP among bank workers in Gondar city was high. Being female, bank workers who had work-related stress, lack of physical activity, using a fixed chair and a chair without an armrest, and lift heavy objects had higher odds of developing LBP. It is better to establish a health screening team, avail a movable chair and a chair with an armrest, and give special attention to female workers and bank workers with stress, and do physical activity including walking at least 150 min/week to reduce the risk of developing low back pain.