title: Psychosocial factors related to lower back problems in a South African manganese industry.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the association between the prevalence of lower back problems, fear-avoidance beliefs, and pain-coping strategies in using an analytical cross-sectional epidemiological study among a group of 109 workers in a South African manganese industry. Outcome (LBP) was defined using a guided questionnaire and functional rating indexes. Exposure to psychosocial risk was determined using the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs (FABQ) and Coping Strategies (CSQ) questionnaires. Using inclusive and stringent definitions for perceived LBP, point prevalence was 37.6 and 29.4%, respectively. Only 8 cases of LBP were, however; recorded officially over a 7-year period reflecting a tendency of underreporting. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated significant adjusted relative risk ratios (RR) for work-related fear-avoidance beliefs (RR 2.35; 95% CI 1.39-3.95) as a singular psychosocial risk while no specific coping strategy could be isolated. In conclusion, work hardening and a contented ethos of the manual laborers under study moderates the association between the prevalence and etiology of LBP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences, LC de Villiers Sport Centre, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa. bvuuren@sport.up.ac.za
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Vuuren
authors.forename: Evert
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zinzen
authors.forename: Hendrik Johannes
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: van Heerden
authors.forename: Piet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meeusen
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese; D008669:Metallurgy / Q000379:methods; D008906:Mining; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011594:Psychometrics; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D008345:Manganese