Prevalence and Factors Associated with Low Back Pain Among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Hospital in Enugu State, South East Nigeria

Low back pain is the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder among healthcare workers globally and represents a significant source of occupational disability and absenteeism in Nigerian tertiary hospitals. This study examines the prevalence and factors associated with low back pain among healthcare workers at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State. A cross-sectional analytical design is applied to 310 healthcare workers including nurses, physiotherapists, radiographers, and ward orderlies selected through stratified random sampling from six departments. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire is used to assess low back pain prevalence and symptom severity over the preceding 12 months and seven days. Structured questionnaires additionally capture occupational exposure variables including lifting frequency, awkward posture duration, standing hours per shift, psychosocial stress, and personal protective factors such as exercise habits and body mass index. SPSS is used for analysis, with chi-square tests and binary logistic regression identifying significant associations. Literature from Nigerian tertiary hospital settings indicates 12-month low back pain prevalence among nurses ranging from 51 to 73 percent, with manual patient-handling tasks and prolonged standing identified as consistent predictors. The Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorder framework and the NIOSH Work Practices Guide for Manual Lifting provide the conceptual basis. Findings will guide the hospital's occupational health department in implementing ergonomic training and patient-handling equipment procurement. Keywords: low back pain, healthcare workers, occupational health, tertiary hospital, Enugu State.