Neck, upper back and low back pain prevalences with the Iinfluencing factors among the population living in the central Malatya

Objectives: To determine the lifetime and point prevalences of neck, upper back and low back pain, to determine the knowledge level on the riscy movements of the people living in the central Malatya with the influencing factors.

            Methods: A cross-sectional interview survey was conducted among 18-69 aged group people living in the central Malatya between  June and September 2006.Stratified probability-proportional-to size sampling methodology was used for selecting the study population. A total of 600 people from 30 clusters were studied. Association between pain prevalences and socio-demographic, health and behavior related characteristics were evaluated.

            Results: Of the participants, 53.2% were men,46.8 %were women, and the mean age was 38.5±0.5 years. Of the participants, 55.7% had a good score for the knowledge on risky behaviors. Of the men, 60.1% and of the women 52.2% had agood knowledge level (p>0.05). The lifetime neck, upper back and low back prevalences were 79.3%, 59.5% and 86.3%, respectively. The point prevalences of neck, upper back and low back were, 12.0%, 3.0% and 18.3%, in order. Gender, age, anxiety, perceived health status were determined to be the main predictors of life time pain prevalences. For point pain prevalences, the main predictors were depression, education level, anxiety and body mass index.

            Conclusion: Both lifetime and point pain prevalences showed that muscolosceletal disorders symptoms were common in the central Malatya. In-service training of health personnel on the subject, and assessment, notification and  prevention methods should be developed.