European Journal of Preventive Medicine 2015; 3(6): 188-192 Published online November 20, 2015 (http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ejpm) doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20150306.15 ISSN: 2330-8222 (Print); ISSN: 2330-8230 (Online) Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Associated Risk Factors Among Adama Hospital Medical College Staff, Ethiopia Alem Deksisa Abebe 1, * , Ephrem Mamo Gebrehiwot 2 , Seblewengel Lema 3 , Tilaye Workineh Abebe 4 1 Department of Public Health, Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Ethiopia 2 Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Assosa University, Assosa, Ethiopia 3 School of Public Health, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 4 Department of Public Health, Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Ethiopia Email address: alemdeks@yahoo.com (A. D. Abebe), ephremmamo@yahoo.com (E. M. Gebrehiwot), sebeye2007@gmail.com (S. Lema), tlife2002@gmail.com (T. W. Abeb) To cite this article: Alem Deksisa Abebe, Ephrem Mamo Gebrehiwot, Seblewengel Lema, Tilaye Workineh Abebe. Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Associated Risk Factors Among Adama Hospital Medical College Staff, Ethiopia. European Journal of Preventive Medicine. Vol. 3, No. 6, 2015, pp. 188-192. doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20150306.15 Abstract: Back ground: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common work–related health problems among hospital workers. Work–related activities such as twisting, bending, sustained posture, repeated movements are regarded as associated risk factors for low back pain. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of Low Back Pain among hospital workers. Methodology: An institution based cross sectional survey design was conducted among employees in Adama Hospital Medical College (AHMC), Adama Ethiopia. Descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multiple regression analyses were performed. p<0.1 in univariate is considered for multivariate analysis and p<0.05 was used to define statistical significance. Result: Of 263, 137(52.1%) were males and 126(47.9%) were females. The result indicated that the mean and median age of the respondents were 33.5 and 33 years respectively. The life time prevalence of LBP was found to be 50.6% and the 12 month LBP prevalence was 41.4%. Staff not participating in any physical activity (exercise) were more likely to report presence of low back pain (AOR (Adjusted Odd Ratio)=1.75, CI, 1.02-3.02). On the other hand, staff who worked sitting more than 6 hours were associated with increased risk of low back pain(AOR=2.78, CI, 1.09-7.07). Perceived stress often increased risk of low back pain (AOR=2.60, CI, 1.06-6.36). Conclusion: LBP was significantly associated with the obesity, stressed often, those worked in seated position more than six hours and those with long year experience; but doing physical exercise has rather a preventive effect. The findings of this study suggest that primary prevention of LBP should be considered. Keywords: Low Back Pain, Prevalence, Associated Risk Factors, Hospital Staff 1. Introduction 1.1. Back Ground Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions in the general population. The burden of LBP is enormous in terms of quality of life, productivity, and employee absenteeism, making these common conditions the single largest contributor to musculoskeletal disability worldwide.LBP is defined as pain localized between the 12th rib and the inferior gluteal folds, with or without leg pain(1, 2).Diagnosis of LBP based on self-reported questionnaire has been used to estimate the prevalence of LBP in epidemiological study of community setting(3).Low back pain can be acute, sub- acute or chronic. It affects children to elderly and is a very common reason for medical consultations (4). Prevalence of LBP varied depending on definitions and study populations and also differs from countries to countries. The point prevalence, or the percentage of people experiencing LBP at a given moment in time, was reported between 21.5% and 57% (4-6). One-year prevalence or LBP event in the past 12 months was reported between 37.8 and 61.3% (7-9). The 6- monthprevalence was reported between 40.8 and 42.6%(11,12),and the lifetime prevalence was reported between 61.6and 70%(5,8).As part of the Global Burden of