Theses and dissertations (Health Sciences)
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Item The epidemiology of work-related neck pain in diagnostic radiographers working in the eThekwini Municipality(2023-05-31) Devnarain, Akshoy; Abdul-Rasheed, AshuraDiagnostic radiography is a branch of radiography that is primarily involved with the diagnosis of disease through diagnostic imaging. Additionally, diagnostic radiographers are predisposed to work-related risk factors due to the work that they perform daily and, as result, they are at risk of developing work-related neck pain (WRNP). Investigating the prevalence and work-related risk factors associated among diagnostic radiographers will create awareness amongst diagnostic radiographers and healthcare providers. Furthermore, in a South African context, this will add updated knowledge to the current literature that exists. AIM The aim of the study was to determine the epidemiology of work-related neck pain in diagnostic radiographers working within the eThekwini municipality. METHODOLOGY The study used a quantitative approach and a descriptive cross sectional survey design. A total 130 participants were recruited for this study. The population sample included qualified diagnostic radiographers who were employed within the eThekwini municipality in the public and private sectors. The questionnaire was distributed and answered either via Hardcopies or QUESTIOPRO® link. All the data were then imported into SPSS version 26 for analysis RESULTS A total of 61 participants had reported WRNP and hence the prevalence rate was 65.6%. The study also reported that females are more likely to have WRNP. Furthermore, the selected risk factors showed that more than 50% of radiographers with WRNP had worked over-time shifts, 75.4% of radiographers experienced neck pain from wearing lead protective gear, 78.7% of radiographers from the study had neck pain from lifting and positioning heavy equipment and machinery, and 47.5% of the participants who had WRNP had a history of a previously diagnosed neck condition. Additionally, 59% of participants had taken leave from work because of WRNP. CONCLUSION This study revealed a high WRNP prevalence rate among diagnostic radiographers working within the eThekwini municipality. The results found in this study shared similar findings from various local and international studies. Due to the high prevalence of WRNP, it is highly recommended that management protocols at work should be investigated to aid diagnostic radiographers.Item The epidemiology of neck pain within the indigenous African population in Harare, Zimbabwe(2019) Blumears, Aimee Ann; Haffejee, Firoza; Makowe, AlistairBackground Musculoskeletal disorders are the leading cause of disability and can impair the quality of life. Of these musculoskeletal disorders, neck pain is one of the most common. Some of the risk factors for neck pain among the African population include low level of education, high-stress levels, low income and motor vehicle accidents. In the international arena, a broad range of risk factors contribute to chronic neck pain. These include female gender, increasing age, poor posture and work habits, twisting and bending of the neck and trunk, low–co-worker support, low socio-economic status and psychosocial factors such as stress and depression. Neck pain presents differently in different populations. The epidemiology of neck pain has not been investigated in Zimbabwe. In this country factors such as economic instability, disruption of social trust, uncertainty about income, high crime rate, unstable healthcare and low morale in the working population have led to the development of psychological disorders such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Furthermore, there has also recently been an increase of vehicle use in Zimbabwe, with concomitant motor vehicle accidents. All of these factors may predispose this population to musculoskeletal pain such as neck pain. However, this requires investigation. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence, risk factors and impact of neck pain in the indigenous African population in Harare, Zimbabwe. Methodology This was a quantitative cross-sectional study based on a previously validated questionnaire sourced from Smith (2016) and conducted in Harare, Zimbabwe. Participants (n = 461) answered a self-administered questionnaire after providing informed consent. The data collected from the questionnaires were captured into an excel spreadsheet and subsequently statistically analysed using SPSS. Standard deviation and mean reports are represented by (mean ± SD) within the text. Where standard deviation is represented by (SD). Tables, graphs and charts were used to present the data. The Inferential analysis was conducted using cross tabulations (interpreted using the Pearson chi- Squared test). The bivariate analysis was done using a Chi-Squared test (Interpreted using the Pearson`s chi-squared test). Odds ratios (OR) were calculated using binary logistic regression, This calculation was used to find dependant variables on an existent independent variable (Willemse 2009: 121). The 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for Odds Ratios and for prevalence (Johnson and Bhattacharyya 2000: 331). A significance of a p- value less than 0.05 was used throughout. Results A total of 461 questionnaires were completed by participants in Harare, Zimbabwe. The point prevalence and 12-month prevalence was 16.4% (95% CI: 0.13 – 0.20) and 26.9% (95% CI: 0.22 – 0.31) respectively. The lifetime prevalence of neck pain was 49% (95% CI: 0.44 – 0.53). Within this population, age was significantly associated with neck pain (p < 0.001) with a larger prevalence within the age group 20 – 35 years. The odds of self-reported neck pain are 2.5 times greater for those with the exposure of self-reported stress compared to the participants without the exposure of self-reported stress (Odds Ratio = 2.5; 95%CI: 1.121 – 5.734; p = 0.025). Lack of finances (22.6%, n =104), work (18%, n =83) and poor living conditions (5.6%, n =26) were the main stressors identified among the participants. Other associations found for neck pain in this population were motor vehicle accidents (p < 0.001) and poor eyesight (p < 0.001). There was an association of neck pain with headaches (p = 0.023), shoulder pain (p < 0.001) and low back pain (p < 0.001). Conclusion Neck pain was prevalent within the indigenous population of Harare, Zimbabwe. Factors that were associated with neck pain in the sample population included stress, age, headaches, shoulder pain, low back pain, motor vehicle accidents, and poor eyesight.Item An epidemiological investigation into the risk factors associated with neck pain in the Indian population in the greater Durban area(2011) Muchna, Julie Miroslava; Ndlovu, Prisca Zandile; Korporaal, Charmaine MariaBackground: Previous investigations on the epidemiology of neck pain in South Africa were limited to the White and Black populations to the exclusion of Indians. Thus the purpose of this study was to create a profile of neck pain and provide an overview of risk factors with particular interest to the Indian population. Objectives: These included the investigation of neck pain prevalence, neck pain clinical characteristics and risk factors for neck pain in the Indian population in the greater Durban area. Method: The first criterion for sample selection the establishment of suburbs within the greater Durban area. Secondly the three most densely populated Indian suburbs were chosen and ranked according to income potential, to ensure a balanced sample. An equal number of residents in each suburb were targeted, with a minimum of 600 respondents. Statistical Program for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15.0 was used to analyse the data. Results: The demographics indicated that the respondents were predominantly matriculated (40.3%), married (57.9%), men (55.7%) of active (94%) Hindu or Christian religion (43%) with a mean age of 36.7 years and a BMI of 24.8 kg/m2. The prevalence of neck pain was 36.83%, with an annual incidence of 28.83%. Original neck pain lasted 8.56 years with a Numerical Rating Scale reading of 4.97. The seldom experienced pain was affected by lifting, sleeping and concentration. In contrast recent neck pain lasted 50.4 days with a Numerical Rating Scale reading of 4.02. The more frequently experienced pain was equally affected by sleeping and lifting. Common risk factors identified for neck pain generally were stress, cycling, favouring one side when carrying a heavy object and suffering from headaches, shoulder pain and / or back pain. The findings of this study supported previous studies, although there were some significant differences. These included males having had a higher prevalence (55.7%) than females (44.3%), as well as watching television being a preventative factor to neck pain. v Conclusions and Recommendations: Thus the prevalence and risk factors of neck pain in the Indian population were comparable to international norms. It was however noted that stratified gender sampling should perhaps have been utilised to strengthen this study and causality of factors in relation to neck pain could not be determined. Both these limitations allow for future research opportunities.Item An epidemiological investigation of neck pain in the white population in the greater Durban area(2010) Slabbert, Warren Neville; Boodhoo, Vilash; Korporaal, Charmaine MariaThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for neck pain in the white population in the greater Durban area. The rational for this study was that there have been few epidemiological studies done on neck pain and even less when concerning different population groups. Discrepancies between population groups have been found in various pain related studies. The present epidemiological study eliminated any possible variables between population groups by studying only the white population in a specific geographical area (Durban). Therefore, physicians treating people with neck pain should use the risk factors that were established in this and other studies and integrate them in their treatment protocol. The study was conducted at three shopping centres around Durban that were randomly selected. Each shopping centre was grouped by the socio-economic status of the surrounding suburbs. There were 900 participants surveyed at three shopping centres by means of a questionnaire. The data were then statistically analysed using SPSS version 15. It was found that the overall prevalence of neck pain was 45%. The participants in this study that had neck pain were more likely to be females that were married or previously married, had a job that caused their heads to turn or to work with their arms above their heads. Lifestyle factors included one or a combination of the following: lead a stressful lifestyle, were emotional, had perceived bad posture, had previously experienced neck or head trauma, slept in awkward positions, watched television, required glasses and did not play squash.