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Psychosocial Factors Related to Lower Back Problems in a South African Manganese Industry

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the association between the prevalence of lower back problems, fear-avoidance beliefs, and pain-coping strategies in using an analytical cross-sectional epidemiological study among a group of 109 workers in a South African manganese industry. Outcome (LBP) was defined using a guided questionnaire and functional rating indexes. Exposure to psychosocial risk was determined using the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs (FABQ) and Coping Strategies (CSQ) questionnaires. Using inclusive and stringent definitions for perceived LBP, point prevalence was 37.6 and 29.4%, respectively. Only 8 cases of LBP were, however, recorded officially over a 7-year period reflecting a tendency of underreporting. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated significant adjusted relative risk ratios (RR) for work-related fear-avoidance beliefs (RR 2.35; 95% CI 1.39–3.95) as a singular psychosocial risk while no specific coping strategy could be isolated. In conclusion, work hardening and a contented ethos of the manual laborers under study moderates the association between the prevalence and etiology of LBP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Bernard van Vuuren & Hendrik Johannes van Heerden

  2. Department Human Physiology & Sports Medicine, Faculty LK,, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    Bernard van Vuuren & Romain Meeusen

  3. Department of Movement Education and Sportstraining, Faculty LK,, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    Evert Zinzen

  4. Biostatistics Unit, Medical Research Council of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

    Piet Becker

  5. Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Faculty of Health Sciences,, University of Pretoria, South Africa

    Piet Becker

  6. Department of Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences, LC de Villiers Sport Centre, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa

    Bernard van Vuuren

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  1. Bernard van Vuuren
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  4. Piet Becker
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Correspondence to Bernard van Vuuren.

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van Vuuren, B., Zinzen, E., van Heerden, H.J. et al. Psychosocial Factors Related to Lower Back Problems in a South African Manganese Industry. J Occup Rehabil 15, 215–225 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-005-1220-1

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