Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2010. / Background: Low back pain (LBP) is the most prevalent musculoskeletal condition
experienced by human beings and the most common cause of disability in developed
nations. Psychosocial factors, involving aspects of social and psychological behaviour,
have previously been documented as potential risk factors in the development of adult
LBP. However, more research is required to fully understand the role of psychosocial
risk factors on the prevalence of LBP amongst adolescents.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of LBP and to identify selected psychosocial
risk factors associated with LBP amongst Grade 12 learners in the Greater Durban area.
Methods: A population-based study was conducted amongst a stratified random sample
of 20 public secondary schools in all three educational districts in the Greater Durban
area. Data was collected by means of a structured questionnaire administered to the
sample population consisting of Grade 12 learners. Using an exploratory research
design, the individuals reported on demographics as well as prevalence, severity,
frequency and chronicity of LBP. In addition, data was obtained regarding various
psychosocial risk factors including depression, exam stress and anxiety, socio-economic
status, family history of LBP, smoking, alcohol and drug abuse amongst the
respondents.
Results: The prevalence of LBP was 57.42% with a median frequency of 8 times a
month. About a third (33.9%) of the respondents experienced difficulty bending whilst
35% reported that their LBP spread down to the legs below their knees. The daily
activity most affected by LBP was having a good night‟s sleep (50.6%), followed closely
by playing sports (47.4%) and concentrating in class (46.6%). The majority of the
respondents that suffered from LBP had taken pain relief medication (47.1%) whilst only
21% of the respondents had missed school because of LBP.
With regards to the psychosocial risk factors under investigation, three of the risk factors
did not show any association to LBP. They included socio-economic status, smoking
and recreational drug use. In contrast, five psychosocial risk factors showed an
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association to LBP. They included alcohol abuse, family history, exam stress, anxiety
and depression. Finally, after adjusting for all other risk factors for adolescent LBP,
depression and high exam stress showed the strongest correlation with the occurrence
of LBP amongst Grade 12 learners in the Greater Durban area.
Conclusion: LBP amongst adolescents is a common problem that increases with age,
representing a risk for LBP in adulthood. The researcher is of the opinion, that this
illustrates the need for further investigations with more profound studies on the risk
factors so that more light can be shed on how to manage this ever-growing problem.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:dut/oai:ir.dut.ac.za:10321/525 |
| Date | January 2010 |
| Creators | Seethal, Verusha J. |
| Contributors | Van Niekerk, L., Wilson, Laura Maie |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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