Factors associated with low back pain among solid waste collectors, Mueang Phitsanulok district, Phitsanulok province

Abstract

          The objectives of this study were to study the prevalence of low back pain and to examine the relationship between personal factors, working factors, psychosocial factor, and low back pain of solid waste collectors, Mueang Phitsanulok district, Phitsanulok province. Data were collected using a questionnaire among 97 solid waste collectors. The questionnaire was divided into 4 parts, consisting of 1) personal information, 2) working information, 3) psychosocial information, and 4) low back pain. Data analysis was descriptive statistics to summarize frequency, percentage, standard deviation, maximum and minimum. A Chi-square test was used for testing the relationship between factors and low back pain.     
          The results showed that solid waste collectors, 99.0% were male, 34.1% were age 30 - 39 years old. 36.1% graduated from lower secondary school. The prevalence of low back pain during the previous 7 days and 12 months were 80.4% and 84.5% respectively. Factors significantly associated with low back pain during the previous 7 days were characteristics of garbage containers, and social support (p-value<0.05), and factor significantly associated with low back pain during the previous 12 months was social support (p-value<0.05).
          Therefore, relevant agencies such as Subdistrict Administrative Organization should encourage solid waste collectors to have practical guidelines to reduce or prevent low back pain.