Back pain in the midwifery profession in northern Poland

Abstract

Background. Neck pain (NP) and low back pain (LBP) are increasingly significant medical, social, and economic concerns. The midwifery profession, similar to other healthcare occupations, is particularly predisposed to these issues. Methods. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of back pain among midwives and evaluate the associated disability levels using the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The study group included 208 actively practicing midwives aged 23 to 67 years (mean ± SD: 48.1 ± 10.7 years). Participants completed an anonymous survey comprising a custom-designed questionnaire, the Polish language versions of the NDI and ODI, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain intensity. Results. The analysis revealed a statistically significant correlation between VAS pain intensity and both age (r = 0.2476) and work experience (r = 0.2758), indicating higher pain scores with increasing age and seniority. No significant association was found between BMI and VAS scores (r = 0.0011). Additionally, NDI and ODI scores correlated significantly with age (r = 0.1731; r = 0.3338), BMI (r = 0.1685; r = 0.2718), and work experience (r = 0.1987; r = 0.4074). Higher values for age, BMI, and seniority were associated with increased disability levels. Conclusions. Neck and low back pain represent prevalent and impactful issues for midwives in Poland, contributing to mild to moderate disability, absenteeism, reliance on pain medication, and limited physical activity. Key contributing factors include age, professional experience, BMI, and low levels of physical activity.