Basil Kum Meh^1,2*, Sunjo Azel Burinyuy², Shekina-Rhoda Chioma Amaka², Brandon Zuo Achuo², Mary Progress Sih² and Gilbert Mua Akwa^3,4

¹Department of Animal Biology and Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
²STEM Higher Institute of Health and Technological Sciences, Douala, Cameroon
³Hôpital Saint Jean de Malte Njombe, Douala, Cameroon
⁴Department of Public Health Liverpool, John Moores University, Liverpool, England

*Corresponding Author: Basil Kum Meh, Department of Animal Biology and Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.

Received: May 06, 2026; Published: May 29, 2026

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is a significant concern among healthcare professionals (HCPs) due to constant twisting, bending, standing and sitting for long. Based on global statistics, LBP affected 619 million people worldwide in 2020, and it is approximated that there will be an increase in the number of cases to 843 million cases by 2050. Other recent findings across the globe reveal that the incidence of low back pain (LBP) is on the rise, with African countries being amongst the countries with the highest increase disability rates caused by LBP. In spite of these, there is not much information about the burden of LBP in the Bamenda Regional Hospital (BRH), Northwest Region, Cameroon. The main objective of the study was to assess the prevalence, risk factors and coping mechanisms of LBP among HCPs at the BRH, a third category hospital.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 334 healthcare workers, from February to April 2026. Participants were selected using a convenience sampling technique. Structured questionnaires were used for data collection of socio-demographics, prevalence, risk factors and coping mechanisms of LBP. Data was input into Microsoft Excel version 16 and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26.0.

Results: The prevalence of LBP among HCPs for the past six months was 96.6% (318/334), while only a small fraction (3.4%, 16) indicated that they had not experienced LBP. The most common risk factor associated with LBP was continuous standing while on duty (74.6%), with the least factor being frequent transfer of patients (41%). With respect to coping mechanisms, 82% (274) modified work activities, 75% (245) employed physical therapy and 72.5% (242) went further to receive training on LBP ergonomics.

Conclusion: The overall prevalence rate of LBP among HCPs at the BRH was very high. Continuous standing was the main prominent risk factors of LBP among the HCPs. The main coping strategies was modification of work activities, use of physical therapy and training on LBP ergonomics.

Recommendation: It is recommended that healthcare institutions strengthen ergonomic interventions, provide continuous staff training, and adopt supportive workplace policies aimed at reducing prolonged standing and physical strain among healthcare professionals.

Keywords: Low Back Pain; Healthcare Professionals; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Coping Strategies

References

1. Margetis K., et al. “Low back pain: evaluation and management”. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing (2026).
2. World Health Organization. “Low back pain: key facts”. Geneva: WHO (2023).
3. Straub J., et al. “The burden of back pain on hospital staff in a maximum care facility in Germany: a survey”. Brain and Spine 5 (2025): 104338.
4. Jacquier-Bret J and Gorce P. “Prevalence of body area work-related musculoskeletal disorders among healthcare professionals: a systematic review”. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1 (2023): 841.
5. Rezaei B., et al. “Low back pain and its related risk factors in health care providers at hospitals: a systematic review”. Annals of Medical Surgery 70 (2021): 102903.
6. Atalay YA., et al. “The prevalence of occupational-related low back pain among working populations in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis”. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology 1 (2024): 39.
7. Situmeang IF., et al. “The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Low Back Pain Among Healthcare Workers in Asia”. Indonesian Journal Occupational Safety Health 3 (2023): 449-456.
8. Almaghrabi A and Alsharif F. “Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Associated Risk Factors among Nurses at King Abdulaziz University Hospital”. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health4 (2021): 1567.
9. Alshuweihi HH., et al. “Prevalence and risk factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physiotherapists in United Arab Emirates”. Scientific Reports 15 (2025): 38878.
10. Gweha B., et al. “Prevalence and factors associated with low back pain among healthcare workers in two hospitals in Yaoundé-Cameroon: a cross-sectional study”. Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases3 (2024): 89-107.
11. Alshuweihi HH., et al. “Prevalence and risk factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physiotherapists in United Arab Emirates”. Scientific Reports1 (2025): 38878.
12. Gweha B., et al. “Prevalence and factors associated with low back pain among healthcare workers in two hospitals in Yaoundé-Cameroon: a cross-sectional study”. Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases3 (2024): 89-107.
13. Abel A., et al. “Prevalence of low back pain and its determinant factors among prehospital healthcare providers working in ambulance service centres in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study design”. BMJ Open3 (2024): e096986.
14. Meh BK., et al. “Prevalence and coping strategies of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among healthcare workers in Douala, Cameroon: a cross-sectional study”. Great Britain Journal Press8 (2023).
15. Meh BK., et al. “Relation between body mass index, blood pressure, heart rate and work-related musculoskeletal disorders among healthcare workers in some reference hospitals in Douala, Cameroon”. Biomedical Research3 (2023): 1-9.
16. Esembeson M., et al. “Prevalence of Work - Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Risk Factors amongst Nurses of Buea and Tiko Health Districts, South West Region, Cameroon”. International Journal of Trend in Research and Development 6 (2020): 1063-1067.
17. Tcheutchoua KF., et al. “The burden of chronic low back pain in the Yaoundé Central Hospital, Cameroon”. East African Journal of Neurological Sciences1 (2022).
18. Bassong PY., et al. “Prevalence of low back pain and associated risk factors in health workers of Bamenda health district-Cameroon”. Journal of Neurological Sciences 405S (2019): 105492.
19. Ge L., et al. “Chronic low back pain and its impact on physical function, mental health, and health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study in Singapore”. Scientific Reports1 (2022): 20040.
20. Meh BK., et al. “Prevalence, demographic and non-demographic risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among healthcare workers in five referral hospitals in the city of Douala, Cameroon: A cross sectional study”. In: Advanced Concepts in Medicine and Medical Research 11 (2023): 126-149.
21. Olatubi MI., et al. “Prevalence and Management of Low Back Pain Among Health Workers in a Privately Owned Teaching Hospital in Nigeria”. Open Public Health Journal 15 (2022): e187494452211230.
22. Moumeni IN., et al. “Chronic low back pain management in rural Cameroon: a pragmatic pilot study of osteopathic care and physiotherapy”. Frontiers in Musculoskeletal Disorder 3 (2025).
23. Ike EU and Olawumi JO. “The Prevalence, Risk Factors and Coping Measures of Back pain Among Nurses in Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria”. Internation Journal Of Caring Sciences2 (2022): 955-968.

Citation

Citation: Basil Kum Meh., et al. “Prevalence, Risk Factors and Coping Strategies of Low Back Pain among Healthcare Professionals at the Bamenda Re- gional Hospital, Northwest Region, Cameroon". Acta Scientific Medical Sciences 10.6 (2026): 10-18.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Basil Kum Meh., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.