ArticleAfrican journal of primary health care & family medicine2025
Lower back pain prevalence and experiences in civil service workers, Botswana.
Article in African journal of primary health care & family medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Low back pain prevalence across African populations from 2017 to 2025: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2026Pooled it
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundLower back pain (LBP) is a global problem contributing to both disability and an increased demand for rehabilitation services. Studies on the prevalence and impact on work performance in Botswana are scarce.
aimWe investigated the prevalence of LBP among civil workers in Botswana and their experiences.
settingThe study setting comprised physiotherapy practice, Gaborone, Botswana.
methodsConcurrent explanatory mixed methods were employed. A total of 339 medical files for civil service workers were reviewed to identify the prevalence of LBP and associated risk factors such as age, gender, body mass index, working duration and type of work. Descriptive statistics were performed. In addition, 20 civil service workers were interviewed. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded inductively.
resultsA total of 339 files were reviewed and the prevalence of LBP was 49%. There was no association between the risk factors and LBP (p 0.05). The experience of LBP was expressed in terms of the characteristics of LBP; the effects of LBP on all life domains and how LBP was managed. Our findings were that LBP affected work life and work performance.
conclusionThe high prevalence of LBP in civil service workers is concerning because it affects all the domains of life including work performance. Workplace health and wellness interventions are recommended.Contribution: Workplace health and wellness interventions are recommended.
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