PREVALENCE OF CHRONIC NON-SPECIFIC MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN IN HOUSEHOLD FEMALES, AND ITS IMPACT ON THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE

BACKGROUND AND AIM One of the most intractable clinical problems clinicians face is chronic musculoskeletal pain. The study aimed to determine the prevalence, nature, and treatment of chronic non-specific musculoskeletal regional pain among household females. METHODOLOGY In a descriptive cross-sectional study, 1100 participants aged 30-45 years were interviewed. Purposive sampling technique and Face to face interview method were integrated for data collection. The respondents were females who suffered from musculoskeletal pain >6 months and experienced pain many times during the last month. Participants who suffered from musculoskeletal pain associated with malignancy or systemic pathologies were excluded from the study. A structured questionnaire was designed that included a Modified SF-36 scale to determine the quality of life and a visual analogue scale to measure pain intensity. RESULTS Prevalence of chronic Knee pain was 34.5%, low Back 31.4%, neck 20.4%, and shoulder pain was13.7%. The intensity of back pain was (2.94±.43), knee (3.01±.54), neck (2.62±.58), and shoulder pain (2.76±.57). Only 21% of females were on prescribed treatment by Pain management specialists, and the rest were relayed on non-prescribed remedies. CONCLUSION Musculoskeletal Chronic pain of moderate to severe intensity was more prevalent in the knee joint among household females. Both back and knee pain seriously affect the quality of their physical and social life.