Prevalence and determinants of musculoskeletal pain among school-going children carrying schoolbags: A cross-sectional study from Central India

Musculoskeletal disorders constitute 1,194 prevalent cases per 1,00,000 among children aged 5 to 19 years in India. School bags with a weight exceeding 10% of the bodyweight is a common cause of backache in school children. METHODS: School children aged 8–15 years from four private schools of Bhopal were included, resulting in a sample of 934 participants. An author-assisted questionnaire was used for data collection. RESULTS: The school bags were 16.5% of the average weight of students. 55.9% of the students experienced pain in the last 12 months, 41.6% in the last ten days and 21.3% had visited a doctor for the same. On analysis, bags with ³ three compartments (AOR: 3.7), using both shoulders to carry bags (AOR: 0.10), and the absence of lockers in schools (AOR: 17.80) were significant predictors of pain in the last ten days (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Massive advocacy and orientation are required at all levels for educational administrators, teachers, parents and students.