Low back pain in 1,100 Iranian pregnant women: prevalence and risk factors.
BACKGROUND
Low back pain (LBP) is a common and costly problem in pregnancy. It is one of the main reasons for disability, absence from work, and responsible for huge direct and indirect economical impact.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of LBP during pregnancy.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out on Iranian pregnant women.


METHODS
Eleven hundred randomly selected pregnant women.


METHODS
A structured questionnaire including demographic, lifestyle, as well as prevalence and characteristics of LBP was used. Visual Analog Scale and Oswestry low back disability questionnaires were also used to assess the pain intensity and functional disability, respectively.


METHODS
After ethical approval from Medical Ethics Board at the Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,100 pregnant women from 18 health centers in Sari district, at northern Iran.


RESULTS
Point, last-month, last 6-month, last-year, and lifetime prevalence of LBP were 40.2%, 55.9%, 59.4%, 76.2%, and 84.1%, respectively. Prolonged standing and rest were found to be the most significant aggravating and relieving factors (76.3% and 87.7%, respectively). LBP was significantly correlated with history of previous LBP and LBP in previous pregnancy (p=.000 in both cases).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of LBP in pregnant women appears to be high and future research should focus on different preventive strategies during pregnancy.
Mohseni-Bandpei
Mohammad A
MA
Rehabilitation Department, School of Medicine, Khazar Blvd., Sari, PO Box 48168, Mazandaran, Iran. mohseni_bandpei@yahoo.com
Fakhri
Moulod
M
Ahmad-Shirvani
Marjan
M
Bagheri-Nessami
Masumeh
M
Khalilian
Ali Reza
AR
Shayesteh-Azar
Masoud
M
Mohseni-Bandpei
Hakimeh
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult