Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Women with Chronic Low Back Pain in Aceh, Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

A frequent musculoskeletal illness in women, chronic low back pain can have a negative impact on daily functioning, quality of life, and physical functioning. In order to create effective preventative and management plans, it is crucial to have a good grasp of the afflicted individuals' sociodemographic and clinical features. The purpose of this research was to characterize the clinical and sociodemographic features of women in Aceh, Indonesia, who suffer from persistent low back pain.

Methods

The research used a cross-sectional design to describe the phenomenon. Patients at a referral hospital for mothers and children in Aceh, Indonesia, who suffered from persistent low back pain were the subjects of the research. Using a convenience sample approach, 250 individuals were recruited in total. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain severity and a questionnaire for sociodemographic and clinical factors were used to gather data. In order to analyze the data, descriptive statistics such as percentages, means, standard deviations, and frequencies were utilized.

Results

Participant ages ranged from 55 ± 13.35 years on average. Of the total participants, 52.0% were married, 60.8% had completed secondary school, and 32.4% were stay-at-home moms. With a mean duration of 3.89 ± 2.08 years and a body mass index of 25 ± 3.51 kg/m², the participants in the study experienced persistent low back pain. While 22.8% of subjects reported constant discomfort, 77.2% reported intermittent pain. The average pain score was 4 with a standard deviation of 0.89, suggesting a moderate degree of discomfort.

Conclusion

Most women who suffered from persistent low back pain were in their middle-aged or later years of life, and they were housewives who had completed at least secondary school. According to clinical criteria, the majority of participants were overweight, reported moderate pain severity, pain that lasted for a long time, and pain that came and went.