Prevalence and biopsychosocial factors associated with chronic low back pain in urban and rural communities in Western Africa: a population-based door-to-door survey in Benin

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of chronic low back pain (CLBP) and related biopsychosocial factors in urban and rural communities in Benin. METHODS: This is a population-based observational cross-sectional survey. An interviewer-administered electronic questionnaire was used to collect information on demographic, socio-economic, behavioral, and psychological factors relating to CLBP risk factors and medical history of participants. The numeric pain rating scale and the Beck Depression Inventory were used to assess pain intensity and the level of depression, respectively. Bivariate analyses were performed to investigate the association between sociodemographic, behavioral, and psychological factors and CLBP. Sequential multiple regression analyses were subsequently performed to predict the occurrence of CLBP. RESULTS: A total of 4320 participants, with a mean age ± SD of 32.9 ± 13.1 years, of which 40.7% were females and 50.1% from an urban area, were enrolled in the study. We found a global prevalence rate of CLBP of 35.5% [95% CI 34.1–36.9%]. The prevalence in urban areas was 30.68% [95% CI 28.9–32.8%]) while 40.2% was found in rural areas [95% CI 38.1–42.2%]). Age (p < 0.001), level of education (p = 0.046), marital status (p < 0.001), working status (p < 0.003), tobacco use (p < 0.016) and regular physical activity (p < 0.011) were associated with CLBP. In urban areas, only the level of education was able to predict the prevalence of CLBP (R(2) = 61%). In rural areas, CLBP was predicted by age, marital and working status (R(2) = 89%). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a high prevalence of CLBP among urban and rural communities in Benin. Age, level of education, marital status, and working status were significantly associated with CLBP in Benin.