The purpose of this study was to estimate one-month prevalence of low back pain in Nepal using a nationally representative sample and present the prevalence estimates by socio-demographic characteristics.
We used national population-based household cross-sectional survey data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) STEPwise Approach to Non-communicable Disease Risk Factor Surveillance (STEPS) survey conducted in Nepal from February to May 2019. People aged 15 to 69 years from all seven provinces of Nepal were included if they lived in the household for at least 6 months and stayed in the household the night before the survey. Data were collected using the Standardised WHO STEPS non-communicable disease questionnaire version 3.2. We reported data as crude estimates (95% CI) of population prevalence of low back pain as well as the age-standardised prevalence. We used univariate logistic regression to assess the associations between sociodemographic variables and the presence of low back pain and results were presented as odds ratios.
A total of 5593 people aged 15 to 69 years participated in the survey. The response rate was 86.4%. The age-standardised prevalence of activity limiting low back was 23.2% (95% CI: 21.9% to 24.5%). Older people (55-69 years) were more likely to report low back pain than younger (15-24 years) [38.5% (95% CI: 35.6% to 41.4%) versus 12.6% (95% CI: 10.4% to 15.0%). Prevalence of back pain was higher in females than males [28.4% (95% CI: 26.9% to 29.9%) versus 20.9% (95% CI: 19.1% to 22.7%)]. Similarly, the prevalence of low back pain was higher in people who were obese, married, stressed, homemakers, lived in rural areas, who consumed alcohol, and who smoked.
The results of our study show that a quarter of adults are affected by low back pain in Nepal. Population-level studies should regularly measure the prevalence of low back pain using the best practice methods in Nepal as well as other LMICs. The results of this study may support future policy and planning for physiotherapists to manage low back pain in Nepal.
This study provides important insights into the prevalence of low back pain in an LMIC like Nepal. From our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to measure the prevalence of low back pain in Nepal using primary data from a nationally representative sample. This study provides future global burden of disease studies with actual prevalence data rather than having to rely on the estimates and helps assess progress in reducing the burden of low back pain. The study also contributes to improving the accuracy of data, monitoring change and implementing health policy and high-value care for physiotherapists.
Prevalence
Low and middle income countries
