Prevalence of Low Back Pain in a Developing Urban Setting

In Brief Study Design. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews. Objectives. To estimate the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) in an urban population of Turkey and to determine the factors associated with occurrence of LBP. Summary of Background Data. Little information exists in the literature regarding the epidemiology of LBP in developing countries. A few data from previous studies suggest that the prevalence of LBP is rather lower in developing countries compared with developed countries. Methods. A total of 100 clusters of households (3,215 residents aged 16 years or older) in municipality area of Antalya was selected by systematic sampling. Of these, 3,173 study participants agreed to interview. The response rate was 98.7%. Results. The crude lifetime, 12-month, and point prevalences of LBP were 46.6% (95% confidence interval CI, 44.9–48.3), 35.9% (95% CI, 34.2–37.6), and 20.1% (95% CI, 18.7–21.5), respectively. In logistic regression analysis, age of 36 years or older, female sex, multiparity, being a housewife, being from East Turkey, and smoking showed independent associations with having current LBP. Being religious, heavy smoking, and age 26 to 45 years were associated with having restricted activity related to LBP. Conclusions. In comparison with other developing countries, point prevalence of LBP is higher in Turkey and approximates to prevalence estimates of LBP in developed countries. Smoking may be associated with both occurrence and severity of LBP. Although piety is not associated with having LBP, religious people are more likely to have restricted activity related to LBP. This is a cross-sectional survey conducted in Turkey, which reveals a higher prevalence of low back pain (LBP) compared with other developing countries. Female sex, multiparity, smoking, and some ethno-socio-cultural characteristics are associated with the occurrence of LBP. Religiousness is associated with increased likelihood of restricted activity related to LBP.