The magnitude and factors associated with work-related back and lower extremity musculoskeletal disorders among barbers in Gondar town, northwest Ethiopia, 2017: A cross-sectional study

Background: Work-related back and lower extremity disorders often present remarkable health and economic burdens on societies. Occupational barbers are usually neglected in research and policy actions, mainly in developing countries, and are hence more vulnerable to the conditions. So far, information about the factors influencing back and lower extremity disorders among barbers in Ethiopia is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors affecting back and lower extremity disorders among barbers in Gondar town, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2017. A sample of 434 barbers recruited using the systematic random sampling technique. A pre-tested standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaire was interviewer-administered for data collection. Data were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20. The significance of associations was evaluated at ≤0.05 p-value with a 95% confidence intervals (CI) and adjusted odds ratios (AOR). Results: The response rate was 98.8% (N = 429). The mean age and mean length of employment were 26.38 (standard deviations (SD) ± 4.78) and 4.91 years, respectively. The prevalence of work-related low back pain in the previous 12 months and in the last 7 days was 55.7% (N = 239) [95% CI (51.0, 60.4)] and 32.6% (N = 140), respectively. About 40.6% (n = 97) of the participants with back pains indicated their activities were limited. The prevalence of knee/leg and ankle pain was 39.4% (N = 169) and 25.6% (N = 110), respectively. Out of the participants, 17% (n = 41) sought treatment services. Less than half, 40.6% (n = 97) said they perceived high disability, while 38.1% (n = 91) explained their pain was intense (severe). Age [AOR: 2.001; 95% CI (1.174, 4.346)], alcohol use [AOR: 2.283; 95% CI (1.376, 3.789)], lack of safety training [AOR: 0.110; 95% CI (0.032, 0.271], working posture [AOR: 0.142; 95% CI (0.045, 0.215)], and length of employment [AOR: 1.650.132; 95% CI (1.107, 2.140] were significantly associated factors. Conclusions: Back and lower extremity musculoskeletal pain and disability were found to be prevalent among Ethiopian barbers and to be associated with age, alcohol use, safety training, work postures, and length of employment. We believe that programs for management of musculoskeletal disorders need to address these factors.