Prevalence of low back pain amongst antenatal clinic attendees at a tertiary hospital in Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: Low back pain is a worrisome complaint amongst antenatal clinic attendees. Management of low back pain in pregnancy is multidisciplinary especially in chronic cases for patient’s satisfaction. Eighty five percent (85%) of women with low back pain in previous pregnancies will develop low back pain in the index pregnancy. Aim: To determine the prevalence of low back pain amongst antenatal clinic (ANC) attendees at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) and offer management modalities. Method: The study was a cross sectional study, involving 200 antenatal clinic attendees, drawn from the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. Information was coded and analysed using SPSS version 25. Results: The mean age was 31.1years; the modal parity was Para 0. Twenty one (20.5%) of the antenatal clinic attendees were housewives, civil servants were 67 (33%) and 79 (39%) were self- employed. For the educational status 144 (72%) had tertiary level, 48 (24%) had secondary level, 4 (2%) had primary level of education, while 4 (2%) of the respondents did not provide their educational status. The prevalence of low back pain was 87 (43.5%). Seventy nine (91.8%) had low back pain lasting less than 6 months while 8 (9.2%) had low back pain lasting greater than 6 months or in previous pregnancies. None of those antenatal mothers were referred to orthopaedic surgeons. Conclusion: The study revealed the prevalence of low back pain amongst ANC attendees at the RSUTH to be 43.5%. In addition, the study revealed that no patient with low back pain had orthopaedic referral. The optimum management for ANC attendees with low back pain is multi-disciplinary involving the obstetricians, the orthopaedic surgeons, physiotherapist, nurses and social workers.