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Functional consequences and health-care seeking behaviour for recurrent non-specific low back pain in Zimbabwean adolescents: a cross-sectional study

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to investigate the consequences of recurrent non-specific low back pain in Zimbabwean adolescents. Recurrent non-specific low back pain is a common cause of adult disability in low-income countries. However, its impact in adolescents has been a matter of debate in the literature.

Methods

A survey was conducted using a cluster sample of 544 school children between the ages of 13 and 19 years. The school children were randomly selected from government-administered secondary schools in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Results

Parental and students’ response rate were 90.3 and 97.8 %, respectively. Almost a third (28.8 %) of school children reported recurrent symptoms (CI 27.8–31.6). However, the majority (84 %) of these cases were unknown to parents. Twenty-seven percent reported having sought medical treatment. On the nine-item Hanover Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire, 71.2 % of school children had at least one activity of daily living compromised by recurrent NSLBP, especially sports participation. However, severe disability was reported in 28 % of the adolescents. Health-care seeking behaviour was not associated with the level of disability [χ 2(1) = 0.36, p = 0.55].

Conclusion

Although most parents are unaware, recurrent NSLBP is common in Zimbabwean school children. However, treatment is rarely sought for the symptoms. A preponderance of adolescents with recurrent NSLBP experiences some degree of functional consequences, although severe disability is rare. There is need to raise awareness of the condition in schools and to parents. Spinal health educational programmes may need to be implemented to avert the functional consequences. Further studies are needed in the future to investigate the coping strategies for pain in adolescents.

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Acknowledgments

The authors (MC and NN) are grateful to Professor Jennifer Jelsma from the University of Cape Town in the Division of Physiotherapy for her valuable time and her endless passion for research. She assisted us with statistical analysis and moral support for this manuscript to be a success. We are greatly indebted to the parents/guardians and school children who volunteered to participate in the study. I am forever thankful. Their consents and assents made this study possible. Special thanks to the Ministry of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture and the Director of Harare Provincial Educational Office in Harare, Zimbabwe for granting permission to conduct the study in schools.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Avondale, P.O Box A178, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Matthew Chiwaridzo

  2. Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa

    Nirmala Naidoo

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  1. Matthew Chiwaridzo
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  2. Nirmala Naidoo
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Correspondence to Matthew Chiwaridzo.

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Chiwaridzo, M., Naidoo, N. Functional consequences and health-care seeking behaviour for recurrent non-specific low back pain in Zimbabwean adolescents: a cross-sectional study. Eur Spine J 25, 643–650 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-015-4105-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-015-4105-9

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