Prevalence and risk factors for low back pain during pregnancy among women in Abakaliki, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION: low back pain (LBP) during pregnancy is an important health concern among women globally. The prevalence and risk factors for LBP in pregnancy vary from and within sub-regions and have implications in preventive and treatment strategies. In West African sub-region, there is scanty data on LBP during pregnancy. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predisposing factors for LBP during pregnancy in this environment. METHODS: this was a cross-sectional study carried out among pregnant women admitted into the Labour Ward of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria over a period of 8 months. They were interviewed within 2 to 7 days postpartum with a questionnaire. Sociodemographic and obstetrics characteristics as well as LBP intensity, features and associated factors were evaluated. Significant factors for LBP that emerged from the univariable analysis were entered into multivariable regression analysis to evaluate the risk of each factor when adjusted to other factors. RESULTS: of the 478 women interviewed, 138 (28.9%) of them (95% CI 25.1-33.1) reported LBP in the index pregnancy. The onset of pain was predominantly in the third trimester and the mean pain intensity was 4.3 ± 1.36. In the univariable analysis, six factors were significantly associated with LBP. Logistic regression analysis identified LBP in previous pregnancy (aOR: 24.76, (95% CI 6.88-89.11); p< 0.001), macrosomia (aOR: 4.15(95% CI 2.05-8.42); p< 0.001) and absence of domestic help (aOR: 0.50(95% CI 0.31-0.82); p=0.006) as independent risk factors for LBP during pregnancy among the women. CONCLUSION: in this study, LBP during pregnancy is within worldwide range and predominantly mild to moderate in intensity. The independent risk factors identified call for high priorities accorded to women with these factors in measures aimed at addressing LBP during pregnancy.