The prevalence and correlates of low back pain in adults: A cross sectional study from Southern India

Low back pain is a major public health problem all over the world. It is generally assumed that overweight, height and low back pain are related. However, the scientific evidence to support this relationship is not fully conclusive. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of low back pain and its association with height, fat distribution, reproductive history and socioeconomic influence. A representative sample of 401 men and 403 women aged 20 years and above were selected and studied. It is found that 28.4% and 52.9% respectively were having low back pain. Height and fat distribution were found to have no association with low back pain. Both men and women, whose household were in the lower socio economic status reported more back pain (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for men 1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02, 2.55 and AOR for women 1.57, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.34). Men with lower educational qualification reported more back pain (AOR 1.89, 95% CI: 1.08, 3.31). In women, those who have undergone caesarean section (AOR 1.661, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.72) and sterilization (AOR 1.63, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.44) were found to be a positively associated with low back pain. The only socioeconomic link with back pain among women seemed to be manual occupation (AOR 3.33, 95% CI: 1.49, 7.4). The finding confirms the higher burden of back pain on the socially disadvantaged, but cannot yet be explained by known risk factors.