Prevalence of low back pain among nurses and the effects on job performance in tertiary health institutions in Ondo State, Nigeria

The study aims to determine the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) among nurses in two tertiary health facilities in Ondo State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used for the study. A total of 269 respondents were selected using quota sampling technique. Validated, pretested questionnaires were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result of the study has shown the lifetime prevalence, current prevalence and 12 months prevalence of low back pain among nurses to be 79%, 30% and 59% respectively. Out of the proportion with low back pain in the past 12 months, majority (69.5%) had acute pain while 30.5% had chronic pain. Moreover, more than half (55.9%) of the proportion with low back pain in the last 12 months described the pain to be moderate. The notable self-reported factors associated with low back pain among the nurses include standing for a long time in the course of working, heavy workloads in the place of work, lifting of patients frequently, bending or twisting frequently in the course of working and working in awkward position. Effect of low back pain on duty performance include inability to care for patients as appropriate, absenteeism at work, intention to change work place and intention to quit nursing profession. Conclusively, this study has shown high rate of low back pain prevalence. Heavy workloads and lifting of patients were among the notable factors. The study recommended that more staffs should be employed, while health policies should be made towards improving the working conditions of nurses in tertiary health care settings in Nigeria.