Low Back Pain Among Iraqi Male Workers Involved In Active Work in an Industrial Company
 
Hassan Alwan Hussien
 
Babylon University –College of Medicine

 
Abstract : 
 
Objectives : To determine the 12 months prevalence rate of low back pain among male workers involved in active work and to assess the risk factors and other variables correlated to this aliment in Iraq.
 
Subjects and methods : Cross sectional study was carried out during 1993 in an industrial mechanical factory through investigating a random sample which include 1098 male workers by using questionnaire to assess the occurrence of low back pain during 12 months according to certain inclusion criteria (tickness absence because of the disease ,receiving treatment ,X-ray finding ,admission to hospital because of the disease and disablement) Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated and Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was done as well.
 
Results and discussion : The one year prevalence rate of low back pain was 16.7% the disease was highly prevalent among workers with obesity and it is correlated N significantly (P<0.05) the advancing in age and increment of duration of employment. There was no significant statistical correlation between low back pain and the level of education (P>0.05).
This disease is more common among sedentary workers. Abnormaly accelerated ESR was associated significantly with low back pain (P<0.05).
 
 
Conclusion : low back pain is a common occupational health problem among  apparently healthy Iraqi male workers .The disease is associated with obesity ,sedentary work ,duration of employment . Abnormally accelerated ESR is highly prevalent among workers with subjective low back pain. 
 
 
Kufa Med. J.2001. vol. 4.No. 1