Prevalence of Back Pain among Nurses at Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of back pain among nurses at Jos University Teaching Hospital. Back pain is an occupational health challenge being experienced by nurses. Extant literature has established that the nature of nursing work predisposes them to this condition. The work environment is, sometimes, not too nurses’ friendly owing to an interplay of consortium of factors. The study aimed at determining the prevalence, use of back care techniques, and other related factors involved among the nurses working at the Jos University Teaching Hospital. The motivation arose from poor information and data as to the existence of this condition among nurses in the teaching hospital. This was necessary as the information about this would enable them to prepare and guard against the debilitating effects of this condition. A cross sectional research design was employed for the study purpose. Jos University Teaching Hospital was the study setting, nurses constituted the study population. A sample of 225 nurses was drawn from the population of 516 nurses using a multi stage sampling approach. Questionnaire was used to elicit responses on the items contained therein. Convenience sampling technique was adopted in gaining access to the respondents. Ethical prescriptions were adhered to as informed consent was sought, and their withdrawal from participation would not attract any victimization. Data collected were analyzed using frequencies and percentages. Findings were presented in table and bar chart. Results of the study shows a high prevalence of back pain among nurses working in JUTH. Findings further demonstrate a relationship between the occupational physical activities and the back pain among nurses. Oluwatoyin A. Ogunyewo | Juliana A Afemikhe "Prevalence of Back Pain among Nurses at Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State, Nigeria" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-4 | Issue-3 , April 2020, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd30576.pdf