A Multifactorial Model Based on Self-reported Back Pain among Nigerian Schoolchildren and the Associated Risk Factors

The occurrence of back pain and its associated risk factors were investigated among school children in Nigeria with the aim of developing a robust predictive back pain model. Data were obtained using a selfreported questionnaire which was distributed to 255 schoolchildren, aged 8 to 13 years. After data screening, SPSS was used to analyze responses from 212 subjects. Exploratory factor analysis and logistic regression were used as complementary statistical techniques to develop a robust model consisting of variables representative of the population. The EFA identified the significance and interaction of the mechanical backpack factor, psychosocial pain effect or feeling factor and the Individual activities factor while the logistic regression model also identified four variables that are significantly associated with back pain among the children. They are Closeness to school (OR=3.991; 95% CI 1.802-8.836), when pain started (OR=4.159; 95% CI 1.886-9.169), the use of back pack (OR=10.926; 95% CI 4.836-24.686) and exposure to computer games (OR=2.509; 95% CI 1.057-5.953). The study showed high prevalence of back pain among Nigerian school children and identified mechanical, psychosocial and individual factors as the major contributors of back pain among them.