title: The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain & its associated factors among female Saudi school teachers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the prevalence and identify the associated factors of musculoskeletal pain among Saudi female school teachers.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational quantitative cross-sectional survey of female Saudi school teachers in five different areas of Saudi Arabia was carried out between August and October 2013. A self-administered questionnaire was used in which the items related to participants' demographic information and pain information were included. A numeric pain rating scale was used for patient self-reporting of pain. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS Pc+ version 21.0 statistical software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred and eighty six female school teachers responded to the survey. Severe Low back pain was reported by 38.1% of teacher, followed by knee pain (26.3%), heel (24.1%), shoulder (20.6%), upper back (17.7%), hip joint (16.5%),ankle (12.3%), neck (11.3%). Sever pain of elbow (5.6%) and wrist (7.4%) was the least reported. Pain affected work at school in 46.1% of school teachers. A combination of variables: body mass index, Vitamin D deficiency, teaching level, presence of chronic illness, were found to be significantly associated with musculoskeletal pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of self-reported prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among female Saudi school teachers is useful to educate the school teachers for adequate care so as to prevent these pains. There is a need for the higher authorities to address this issue and implement intervention programs to alleviate the pain and suffering of these school teachers.
authors: Alsiddiky Abdulmonem, Research Chair of Spinal Deformities, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Alsiddiky
authors: A
authors: Abdulmonem
authors: Algethami Hanan, Research Chair of Spinal Deformities, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Algethami
authors: A
authors: Hanan
authors: Ahmed Elaf, Research Chair of Spinal Deformities, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Ahmed
authors: A
authors: Elaf
authors: Tokhtah Haneen, Research Chair of Spinal Deformities, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Tokhtah
authors: T
authors: Haneen
authors: Aldouhan Jenan, Research Chair of Spinal Deformities, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Aldouhan
authors: A
authors: Jenan
keywords: Female; Musculoskeletal; Pain; Saudi Arabia; School teachers