Occupational biopsychosocial factors associated with neck pain intensity, neck-disability, and sick leave: A cross-sectional study of construction labourers in an African population.

Abstract

IntroductionThe burden and impact of neck pain is high in African countries including Nigeria. This study investigated the occupational biomechanical and occupational psychosocial factors associated with neck pain intensity, neck disability and sick leave amongst construction labourers in an urban Nigerian population.MethodsThis cross-sectional study measured clinical neck pain outcomes, occupational biomechanical factors, and occupational psychosocial factors. Descriptive, and univariate/multivariate inferential statistical analyses were conducted.ResultsSignificant independent factors associated with neck pain intensity were order and pace of tasks being dependent on others (β = 0.35; pConclusionsOccupational biomechanical factors may be more important than occupational psychosocial factors in explaining neck disability and sick leave. In contrast, occupational psychosocial factors may be more important than occupational biomechanical factors in explaining neck pain intensity in this population in Nigeria.