Risk factors for, back pain among male farmers: Analysis of Iowa farm family health and hazard surveillance study

Background Back pain causes considerable morbidity, disability, and economi c loss among, workers. Farmers handle heavy objects, often in awkward postu res. However, the prevalence of back pain among farmers and the risk factor s associated with back pain are not well known. Methods In this study. we assess the frequency of risk factors for back pai n among 287 Iowa male farmers, From 1992 to 1994, using a mail questionnair e, we collected data on potential risk factors, for back pain. Eighteen mon ths later, we surveyed occurrence of back pain as the outcome measure. Results Thirty-one percent of farmers reported having daily back pain for a week or more during the past 12 months compared to 18.5% in the general wo rking population. Using a multiple logistic regression model,. we found two factors associated with back pain: 45-59, years of age (OR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.02-4.43) and having a non-agricultural job as the major occupation (OR = 2.02, 95% CI 0.98-4.17, P = 0.055). Conclusions Farmers had a significantly higher prevalence of back pain than the general working population. Middle-aged farmers and those with additio nal non-agricultural jobs had the highest risk for back pain. (C) 2001 Wile y-Liss, Inc.