Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a common source of pain among university students. However, there are fewer studies on MSDs among private university students in Nigeria.
Objective
To determine the prevalence and risk factors of MSDs among private university students.
Methods
A multistage sampling technique was employed to recruit 1248 undergraduates of Redeemer's University, Nigeria, for a cross-sectional study. A structured questionnaire, including the Standard Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, was used to assess the prevalence and risk factors of MSDs across different body regions. The Chi-square statistic was applied to examine the association between variables, and binary logistic regression was used to test the predictive values of the identified risk factors of MSDs.
Results
The 12-month prevalence of MSDs was 76% (females = 82.5%, males = 74.3%, p < 0.001). The neck region (47%) was the most affected. Stress, leisure-time physical activity, and taking short-breaks were associated with MSDs in both males and females (p < 0.05). Alcohol consumption (p = 0.005), stress (p < 0.001), and taking short-breaks (p < 0.001) were associated with MSDs among third-year students. Students not taking short-breaks (OR = 1.875, 95%CI = 1.409–2.495), not participating in leisure-time physical activity (OR = 1.448, 95%CI = 1.064–1.970), and those in third-year (OR = 1.414, 95%CI = 1.006–1.987) and fourth-year (OR = 1.715, 95%CI = 1.179–2.494) were more likely to have MSDs.
Conclusions
The study identified not taking short-breaks, physical inactivity, female gender, and mid-levels of study as key predictors of MSDs among private university students in Nigeria. These findings provide insights into risk factors that could be targeted to reduce the high prevalence of MSD in this understudied population of university students.
BlythFMBriggsAMSchneiderCH, et al.The global burden of musculoskeletal pain—where to from here?Am J Public Health2019; 109: 35–40.
2.
MalikKNelsonA. Overview of low back pain disorders. In: Benzon HT, Raja SN, Liu SS, Fishman SM, Cohen SP, editors. Essentials of pain medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia (PA): Elsevier; 2018, pp. 193–206.
LouwQAMorrisLDGrimmer-SomersK. The prevalence of low back pain in Africa: a systematic review. BMC Musculoskelet Disord2007; 8: 105.
5.
HoyDBrooksPBlythF,et al.The epidemiology of low back pain. Best Pract Res: Clin Rheumatol2010; 24: 769–781.
6.
HoyDBainCWilliamsG, et al.A systematic review of the global prevalence of low back pain. Arthritis RHeum2012; 64: 2028–2037.
7.
MorrisLDDanielsKJGanguliB,et al.An update on the prevalence of low back pain in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analyses. BMC Musculoskelet Disord2018; 19: 196.
8.
AbaraoguUOOkaforUACEzeukwuAO,et al.Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal discomfort and its impact on activity: a survey of beverage factory workers in Eastern Nigeria. Work2015; 52: 627–634.
9.
AbaraoguUODuruDOImajiB, et al.Musculoskeletal problems and backpack carriage among students in Nigeria. Work2020; 65: 175–180.
10.
AkoduAKAshalejoZO. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders and work ability among hospital nurses. J Taibah Univ Med Sci2019; 14: 252–261.
11.
EkechukwuENDUsehENnaOL, et al.Ergonomic assessment of work-related musculoskeletal disorder and its determinants among commercial mini bus drivers and driver assistants (mini bus conductors) in Nigeria. PLOS ONE2021; 16(12): e0260211.
12.
EkechukwuENDAguwaENOkekeTA, et al.Prevalence, correlates and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among Nigerian physiotherapy and architecture undergraduates. J Nigeria Soc Physiother2020; 19: 8–18.
13.
MbadaCEAbegunrinAFEgwuMO, et al.Prevalence, pattern and risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Nigerian plumbers. PLOS ONE2022; 17: e0273956.
14.
NjakaSMohd YusoffDAnuaSM, et al.Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and their associated factors among quarry workers in Nigeria: A cross-sectional study. Heliyon2021; 7(2):e06130. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06130
15.
OmojunikanbiOAAkinpeluAOEkechukwuEND. Prevalence, pattern and predictors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among oil workers in Nigeria. Work2022; 71: 151–163.
16.
HaroonHMehmoodSImtiazF, et al.Musculoskeletal pain and its associated risk factors among medical students of a public sector university in Karachi, Pakistan. J Pak Med Assoc2018; 68: 682–688.
17.
OgundiranOOAgbonlahorEOkeKI,et al.Work-related musculoskeletal pain and characteristics of brewery workers in Southwest Nigeria-a pilot study. Rev Pesqui Fisioter2020; 10: 149–155.
18.
OgunlanaMOGovenderPOyewoleOO. Prevalence and patterns of musculoskeletal pain among undergraduate students of occupational therapy and physiotherapy in a South African university. Hong Kong Physiother J2021; 41: 35–43.
19.
PachecoMPCarvalhoPJCavalheiroL,et al.Prevalence of postural changes and musculoskeletal disorders in young adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health2023; 20: 7191.
20.
PartoDNWongAYMacedoL. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and associated risk factors in Canadian university students. BMC Musculoskelet Disord2023; 24: 501.
21.
PenkalaSEl-DebalHCoxonK. Work-related musculoskeletal problems related to laboratory training in university medical science students: a cross sectional survey. BMC Public Health2018; 18: 1208.
22.
SamarahOQMadenHASanwarBO, et al.Musculoskeletal pain among medical students at two Jordanian universities. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil2023; 36: 429–436.
23.
TantawySARahmanAAAmeerMA. The relationship between the development of musculoskeletal disorders, body mass index, and academic stress in Bahraini university students. Korean J Pain2017; 30: 126–133.
24.
SenarathMThalwaththeSTennakoonS. Prevalence of selected musculoskeletal disorders among the students of faculty of allied health sciences, university of peradeniya. J Musculoskelet Disord Treat2021; 7: 5–9.
25.
NgYMVooPMaakipI. Psychosocial factors, depression, and musculoskeletal disorders among teachers. BMC Public Health2019; 19: 234.
26.
ThieseMSLuMLMerryweatherA, et al.Psychosocial factors and low back pain outcomes in a pooled analysis of low back pain studies. J Occup Environ Med2020; 62: 810–815.
27.
AyanniyiOUdofiaUI. Prevalence and pattern of musculoskeletal pain among undergraduates from a Nigerian university. Afr J Physiother Rehabil Sci2018; 8: 28–37.
28.
IkennaUCNwobodoLNEzeukwuAO, et al.Relationship between the development of musculoskeletal disorders, physical activity level, and academic stress among undergraduates students of University of Nigeria. J Educ Health Promot2022; 11: 399.
29.
ObembeAOJohnsonOETanimowoTO, et al.Musculoskeletal pain among undergraduate laptop users in a Nigerian University. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil2013; 26: 389–395.
30.
AkindeleI. Evolution of private universities in Nigeria: matters arising and the way forward. Educ Res Rev2013; 8: 41–50.
31.
PilaniMOgharandukunMIdakwojiS, et al.Private universities in Nigeria: their emergence, proliferation, significance and funding. Int J Innov Res Dev2023; 12: 34–40.
Da CostaBRVieiraER. Risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review of recent longitudinal studies. Am J Ind Med2010; 53: 285–323.
36.
Dimate-GarciaAERodríguez-RomeroDC. Risk factors associated to musculoskeletal disorder perception in college students, Bogota, 2016. Int J Ind Ergon2021; 81: 103010.
37.
JahromiMMAbolahrari-ShiraziSSafariS,et al.Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders risk factors and ergonomic assessment of posture among senior students of rehabilitation school of shiraz university: a cross-sectional study. J Rehabil Sci Res2022; 9: 180–184.
38.
MaxnerAGrayHVijendrenA. A systematic review of biomechanical risk factors for the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in surgeons of the head and neck. Work (Reading, Mass)2021; 69: 247–263.
39.
VidalWRomero-TapiaPMauricioF, et al.Associated risk factors and prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Peruvian undergraduate dental students: a multivariate analytical study. J Int Oral Health2020; 12: 512–517.
40.
WamiSDMekonnenTHYirdawG,et al.Musculoskeletal problems and associated risk factors among health science students in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. J Public Health (Germany)2021; 29: 943–949.
41.
CrawfordJO. The nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire. Occup Med (Chic Ill)2007; 57: 300–301.
42.
KuorinkaIJonssonBKilbomA, et al.Standardised nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Appl Ergon1987; 18: 233–237.
43.
AdesolaCODorcasAOOluwagbohunmiA, et al.Musculoskeletal pain and postural abnormalities among smartphone-using digital natives. J Musculoskelet Disord Treat2020; 6: 1–12.
44.
MusaAI. Social distancing and musculoskeletal disorders in supermarkets during COVID-19 pandemic in Ogun State Southwest Nigeria. J Sci Technol Res2020; 2: 97–103.
45.
OgwumikeOOUbaM. Association between menstrual cycle Status and musculoskeletal disorders among female athletes in Nigeria. J Women’s Health Phys Ther2018; 42: 148–153.
EkpenyongCEDanielNEAriboEO. Associations between academic stressors, reaction to stress, coping strategies and musculoskeletal disorders among college students. Ethiop J Health Sci2013; 23: 98–112.
48.
TrikiMKoubaaAMasmoudiL, et al.Prevalence and risk factors of low back pain among undergraduate students of a sports and physical education institute in Tunisia. Libyan J Med2015; 10.
49.
OverstreetDSStrathLJJordanM, et al.A brief overview: sex differences in prevalent chronic musculoskeletal conditions. Int J Environ Res Public Health2023; 20: 4521.
50.
ReuterPRFichthornKR. Prevalence of generalized joint hypermobility, musculoskeletal injuries, and chronic musculoskeletal pain among American university students. PeerJ2019; 2019: e7625.
51.
HanphitakphongPKeeratisirojOThawinchaiN. Smartphone addiction and its association with upper body musculoskeletal symptoms among university students classified by age and gender. J Phys Ther Sci2021; 33: 394–400.
52.
WeleslassieGGMelesHGHaileTG,et al.Burden of neck pain among medical students in Ethiopia. BMC Musculoskelet Disord2020; 21: 14.
53.
GoodeAPFreburgerJCareyT. Prevalence, practice patterns, and evidence for chronic neck pain. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken)2010; 62: 1594–1601.
OsamaMBinMJanA,et al.A randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of rest breaks and exercise breaks in reducing musculoskeletal discomfort in static workstation office workers. Ann Allied Health Sci2015; 1: 30–34.
56.
ChakrabartySSarkarKDevS, et al.Impact of rest breaks on musculoskeletal discomfort of chikan embroiderers of West Bengal, India: a follow up field study. J Occup Health2016; 58: 365–372.
57.
LugerTMaherCGRiegerMA,et al.Work-break schedules for preventing musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders in healthy workers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev2019; 7: CD012886.
