ABSTRACT
Background: One of the most prevalent health conditions in population is low back pain, although it is frequency and determinants are underestimated in the developing countries. The study aimed to: Assess the prevalence of farmers' low back pain, associated risk factors, and related disability in Assiut District. Research Design: Descriptive cross-sectional design. Sample: Included 221 farmers. Setting: Five villages were selected randomly. Study Tools: Four tools; Tool (I), part (1): Personal characteristics, part (2): Past medical history, and part (3): Body Mass Index, Tool II, part (1): Standardized Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of low back pain among farmers, part (2): Characteristics of last attack of low back pain, Tool III, part (1): Agricultural work-related conditions, part (2): Agricultural work-related biomechanical factors and Tools (IV): Oswestry Disability Index. Results: It was found that 54.8% of farmers aged 45–60 years, 78.7% male, and 25.8% had family history of low back pain. As well as LBP was highly prevalent (82.8%) with mostly gradual onset (62.8%). Also, months of agricultural work per year and the agricultural machinery were strongly associated with LBP. The strongest independent predictors were illiteracy, daily wage worker, and carrying heavy loads. Conclusion: Low back pain was highly prevalent among farmers which significantly associated with longer period of agricultural work and the use of agricultural machinery, with stronger independent predictors with illiteracy, daily wage, and carrying heavier load weight. Recommendations: A community-based education program should be put in place to raise farmers' knowledge about how to prevent and treat low back pain.
Key words: Disability, Farmers, Low Back Pain, Risk Factors.