Nonspecific low-back pain in Kuwaiti children and adolescents: associated factors.

PURPOSE

To investigate factors associated with low-back pain among Kuwaiti children and adolescents; and study their relation with social activities and school performance.

METHOD

A cross-sectional population of 400 schoolchildren aged 10 to 18 years were selected from junior and high schools in one of the governorates in Kuwait. Data were collected through personal interviews using a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software.

RESULTS

Older adolescent females who practice strenuous physical activities and spend a significant amount of time watching TV, and smokers were found to be significantly more likely to have low-back pain. Also, high grade-point average students were found to experience more low-back pain. Methods of carrying school materials were not significantly associated with low-back pain. Low-back pain did not significantly affect the number of absent days from school.

CONCLUSIONS

The study suggests that back pain in Kuwaiti schoolchildren and adolescents is associated with older age, female gender, increase in physical activity, and time spent watching television.