Occupational Asthma Reference
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Bio F, Sadhra S, Jackson C, Burge PS,
Low back pain in underground gold miners in Ghana,
Ghana Med J,
2007;41:21-25,
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Keywords: Ghana, miner, back pain, epidemiology, cross sectional, questionnaire
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Biomechanical lumbo-spinal strain and intense physical work are the characteristic hallmarks of mining work.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and predisposing factors for Low Back Pain (LBP) among male underground gold miners at the Obuasi gold mine in Ghana.
METHODS: This is a cross sectional study on 280 male underground gold miners from June to October 2001 with a structured questionnaire administered through interviews.
RESULTS: The twelve months prevalence of low back pain among miners was 67%. The mean age of the workers was 40 years (+/- 5.6, ranging from 27 to 53 years). Increasing age was significantly associated with low back pain, (P=0.05) OR 2.07 (95% CI 0.99 to 4.34) after adjustment for smoking and occupation. Prevalence of LBP was highest among workers performing engineering (82%) duties. Heavy physical work (77%), was identified as a major cause of LBP, which could be prevented by the use of lifting aids (16%).
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of low back pain in this group is comparable with that obtained from other studies in Africa and Europe. Training and education as a means of reducing LBP was suggested by just a few of the respondents.
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