THE COMPARISON OF THE FREQUENCY OF LOW BACK PAIN BETWEEN PRIMIPAROUS AND MULTIPAROUS PREGNANT FEMALES

Abstract

Background: Low back pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal issue in pregnancy, with an incidence ranging from 24% to 90%. Pregnancy-induced mechanical and hormonal changes contribute to its development, often leading to functional limitations. The severity of pain and associated disability can be measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Identifying the influence of parity on the occurrence and severity of low back pain is essential for understanding its impact on maternal health and developing preventive strategies.

Objective: To analyze the frequency of low back pain and disability among primiparous and multiparous pregnant females.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 117 pregnant females recruited through non-probability convenience sampling at the outpatient department of Lady Willingdon Hospital, Lahore. The intensity of low back pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), while disability was evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 21, with a significance level of p < 0.05.

Results: Low back pain was reported by 81.2% (95/117) of the participants, with a higher prevalence among multiparous women (83.8%) compared to primiparous women (76.7%). However, no statistically significant association was found between low back pain and parity (p = 0.347). Disability was reported by 78.6% (92/117) of participants, with a higher frequency in multiparous (81.1%) than primiparous (74.4%) women, though this difference was also not statistically significant (p = 0.397). The majority of participants were in their third trimester (79.5%).

Conclusion: Low back pain was a common complaint among pregnant females, with higher pain and disability scores observed in multiparous women. Although no significant association was found between parity and these outcomes, multiparity remains a potential risk factor. Preventive strategies focusing on education, posture management, and physical therapy are essential to improve maternal well-being.