ABSTRACTS
Background: Neck pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal complaints, causing a significant discomfort, disability, and economic burden. It affects approximately half of the adult population annually, with a lifetime prevalence of 22-70%. Risk factors include psychological, physical, and occupational demands, with poor sleep quality and fatigue exacerbating symptoms.
Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, risk factors of neck pain and its associated sleep quality among medical laboratory scientists in health facilities in Benin City.
Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and sleep quality associated with neck pain among medical laboratory scientists in Benin City. A total of 128 Medical Laboratory Scientists who are staff of University of Benin Teaching Hospital(UBTH), Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, and Edo Specialist Hospital, Benin City were recruited using Purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaire, including the Numerical pain rating scale. Descriptive statistics, Chi Square, and Pearson’s correlation were used to analyze the data. Alpha level was set at p<0.05.
Results: The prevalence of neck pain was high with a mean rating of 5.57 (± 3.59), the prevalence of neck pain was, male: 65 (59.09%) and female: 45 (40.91%) . There was a significant association between age group and prevalence of neck pain (p = 0.007). Type of laboratory work was also significantly associated with neck pain (p = 0.002). Working hours were positively correlated with neck pain (p = 0.022)
Conclusion: The study observed a significant prevalence of neck pain among Medical Laboratory Scientists, with notable variations across different age groups, work hours, and types of laboratory tasks. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, such as ergonomic adjustments and number of working hours to mitigate the impact of neck pain. Given the potential link between neck pain and sleep quality, further research exploring the full scope of this relationship is recommended to improve the overall wellbeing of Medical Laboratory Scientists.
Keywords: Neck pain, prevalence, risk factors, sleep quality, medical laboratory scientists.
