The effect of occupational related low back pain on functional activities among male manual workers in a construction company in cape town, South Africa.
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Date
2010
Authors
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Publisher
University of the Western Cape
Abstract
Construction manual workers are at a high risk of suffering from occupational related low back
pain because of high-risk activities involved and the nomadic nature of the workforce. Low back
pain and its associated disability continue to plague the construction industry. The prevalence of
occupational related low back pain among manual workers in construction companies is believed
to be due to high exposure to awkward postures for long hours, heavy manual work and exposure
to whole-body vibration in the work environment. As a result of these risky exposures, low back
pain has consistently been the leading cause of both occupational disability and absenteeism in
the construction industry. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of occupational-
related low back pain on the functional activities of the manual workers in a construction
company in Cape Town. The prevalence and the predisposing factors of low back pain among
construction manual workers were established as well as the effect of occupational-related low
back pain on the functional activities of the manual workers was also determined. A cross-
sectional descriptive study using quantitative method was utilized. A convenient sampling
method was employed and all the 212 avarlable participants at two construction settings were
recruited for the study. The population was categorised into four main occupational groups;
masons, handymen, labourers and foremen. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire
as a closed ended interview guide. The questionnaire comprised of four parts. Part one was used
to determine the demographic data while parts two, three and four utilised three standardized
close-ended validated questionnaires. These are; the Nordic Musculoskeletal Disorder
Questionnaire, the Profile Fitness Mapping questionnaire and the Pain and Disability
Questionnaire. Data was captured and analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences
(SPSS) version 17.0 spreadsheet for statistical analysis. The study was conducted under the
adherence of the ethical considerations. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses describe
the association between the investigated independent variables with the occulrence of
occupational related low back pain in the study. Results are presented using tables, charts and
graphs. The results revealed a 25Yo prevalence of low back pain while the one month and one
week prevalence rates were 69Yo and 54Yo respectively. Masons recorded the highest low back
pain prevalence rate (58%). Initial onset of low back pain was mainly attributed to bending
(48%) and load lifting (28%). The chi-square test at p< 0.05 was done. The results revealed a
lack of association between low back pain and the socio-demographic characteristics.
Participants confirmed suffering physical, emotional, financial and functional problems with
415% reporting sickness absence and a mean of 4 days being lost during the past year. Further
chi-square test for proportion revealed an association between low back pain and participants'
ability to; lift (p:0.006), bend back forwards (p:0.001) and ability to bend back backwards
(p=0.014). To prevent impairment, activity limitation and participation restriction among
construction manual workers, a number of factors must be addressed at epidemiological level as
highlighted in the recommendations of this study.
Description
Magister Scientiae (Physiotherapy) - MSc(Physio)
Keywords
Cape Town, Construction Manual Workers, Disability, Low Back Pain, Occupational Risk Factors