Low back pain during pregnancy: prevalence, risk factors and clinical profile in the Bamenda Regional Hospital

Abstract Background Low back pain (LBP) is a significant musculoskeletal problem during pregnancy, which can negatively affect a woman’s quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, the clinical characteristics and the factors associated with LBP during pregnancy among wom...

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Main Authors: Dobgima Walter Pisoh, Nzognou Tsopa Juny Karelle, Roland Ndouh Nchufor, Takang William Ako, Achuo Ascensius Ambe Mforteh, Merlin Boten, Theodore Tameh, Audrey-Fidelia Eyere Mbi-Kobenge, Moses Samje, Dohbit Julius Sama, Pascal Foumane
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07506-2
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author Dobgima Walter Pisoh
Nzognou Tsopa Juny Karelle
Roland Ndouh Nchufor
Takang William Ako
Achuo Ascensius Ambe Mforteh
Merlin Boten
Theodore Tameh
Audrey-Fidelia Eyere Mbi-Kobenge
Moses Samje
Dohbit Julius Sama
Pascal Foumane
author_facet Dobgima Walter Pisoh
Nzognou Tsopa Juny Karelle
Roland Ndouh Nchufor
Takang William Ako
Achuo Ascensius Ambe Mforteh
Merlin Boten
Theodore Tameh
Audrey-Fidelia Eyere Mbi-Kobenge
Moses Samje
Dohbit Julius Sama
Pascal Foumane
author_sort Dobgima Walter Pisoh
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Low back pain (LBP) is a significant musculoskeletal problem during pregnancy, which can negatively affect a woman’s quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, the clinical characteristics and the factors associated with LBP during pregnancy among women attending the Antenatal Unit of the Bamenda Regional Hospital (BRH). Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out from February to April 2019 at the Antenatal unit of the BRH. We included all pregnant women who came for antenatal consultation during the study period and who gave their informed consent to participate in the study. A pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, the occurrence of LBP, its clinical characteristics and the factors associated with its occurrence. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25.0. Univariate logistic regression was used to identify risk factors and multivariate analysis was used to eliminate confounders. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 410 participants were included in the study. The prevalence of LBP in pregnancy was 53.9% (n = 221). The prevalences of lumbar pain and pelvic girdle pain were 34.9% (n = 143) and 26.1%, (n = 107), respectively. The factors that were associated with a higher likelihood of reporting LBP were a history of LBP in a previous pregnancy (aOR = 2.9, 95% CI, p = < 0.001), obesity (aOR 3.4 95% CI, p = < 0.001), and using a soft mattress (aOR = 2.4 95% CI, p = 0.006). Exercise during pregnancy was found to be a protective factor (aOR = 0.2 95% CI, p = < 0.001). Conclusions Low back pain during pregnancy is a common problem among pregnant women attending antenatal care at the Bamenda Regional Hospital. Health workers need to be proactive in identifying LBP in pregnancy and managing it promptly.
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spelling doaj-art-0d3cd26b9b544cf9a58d84ad9ba4a2b92025-08-20T03:10:06ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932025-04-012511910.1186/s12884-025-07506-2Low back pain during pregnancy: prevalence, risk factors and clinical profile in the Bamenda Regional HospitalDobgima Walter Pisoh0Nzognou Tsopa Juny Karelle1Roland Ndouh Nchufor2Takang William Ako3Achuo Ascensius Ambe Mforteh4Merlin Boten5Theodore Tameh6Audrey-Fidelia Eyere Mbi-Kobenge7Moses Samje8Dohbit Julius Sama9Pascal Foumane10Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of BamendaDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of BamendaDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of BamendaDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of BamendaDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of BamendaDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of BamendaDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of BamendaDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of BamendaDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of BamendaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde IDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde IAbstract Background Low back pain (LBP) is a significant musculoskeletal problem during pregnancy, which can negatively affect a woman’s quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, the clinical characteristics and the factors associated with LBP during pregnancy among women attending the Antenatal Unit of the Bamenda Regional Hospital (BRH). Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out from February to April 2019 at the Antenatal unit of the BRH. We included all pregnant women who came for antenatal consultation during the study period and who gave their informed consent to participate in the study. A pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, the occurrence of LBP, its clinical characteristics and the factors associated with its occurrence. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25.0. Univariate logistic regression was used to identify risk factors and multivariate analysis was used to eliminate confounders. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 410 participants were included in the study. The prevalence of LBP in pregnancy was 53.9% (n = 221). The prevalences of lumbar pain and pelvic girdle pain were 34.9% (n = 143) and 26.1%, (n = 107), respectively. The factors that were associated with a higher likelihood of reporting LBP were a history of LBP in a previous pregnancy (aOR = 2.9, 95% CI, p = < 0.001), obesity (aOR 3.4 95% CI, p = < 0.001), and using a soft mattress (aOR = 2.4 95% CI, p = 0.006). Exercise during pregnancy was found to be a protective factor (aOR = 0.2 95% CI, p = < 0.001). Conclusions Low back pain during pregnancy is a common problem among pregnant women attending antenatal care at the Bamenda Regional Hospital. Health workers need to be proactive in identifying LBP in pregnancy and managing it promptly.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07506-2Low back painPregnancyPrevalenceRisk factorsCameroon
spellingShingle Dobgima Walter Pisoh
Nzognou Tsopa Juny Karelle
Roland Ndouh Nchufor
Takang William Ako
Achuo Ascensius Ambe Mforteh
Merlin Boten
Theodore Tameh
Audrey-Fidelia Eyere Mbi-Kobenge
Moses Samje
Dohbit Julius Sama
Pascal Foumane
Low back pain during pregnancy: prevalence, risk factors and clinical profile in the Bamenda Regional Hospital
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Low back pain
Pregnancy
Prevalence
Risk factors
Cameroon
title Low back pain during pregnancy: prevalence, risk factors and clinical profile in the Bamenda Regional Hospital
title_full Low back pain during pregnancy: prevalence, risk factors and clinical profile in the Bamenda Regional Hospital
title_fullStr Low back pain during pregnancy: prevalence, risk factors and clinical profile in the Bamenda Regional Hospital
title_full_unstemmed Low back pain during pregnancy: prevalence, risk factors and clinical profile in the Bamenda Regional Hospital
title_short Low back pain during pregnancy: prevalence, risk factors and clinical profile in the Bamenda Regional Hospital
title_sort low back pain during pregnancy prevalence risk factors and clinical profile in the bamenda regional hospital
topic Low back pain
Pregnancy
Prevalence
Risk factors
Cameroon
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07506-2
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