Attached
Objectives: To demine the prevalence of musculoskeletal problems, associated factors and preventive measures
practiced by teachers in Nugegoda education division.
Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among 247 teachers working in Nugegoda education
division. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to ascertain the data related to work characteristics
and musculoskeletal symptoms and preventive measures of teachers. Data analysis was carried out using the SPSS
statistical package (version 16). Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were used to determine the proportions of
MSP and their associations with work related variables.
Results: Response rate was 63.1% and majority (95.5%) of respondents were females. Prevalence of knee pain was
51.2% followed by pain in ankles (42.1%) and neck (34.7%) during the past twelve months. Age was significantly
associated with shoulder pain (OR=1.93,95% Cl; 1.02-3.67) and knee pain (OR=1.91, 95% Cl; 1.08-3.38). Number
of students in the class was significantly associated with knee pain (OR=2.04, 95% Cl; 1.13-3.67) and ankles
pain(OR=2.38, 95% Cl; 1.33-4.26) respectively. Further, work experience was significantly associated with knee
pain (OR= 2.07, 95% Cl; 1.21-3.53). Being a parent with three or more children was significantly associated with
knee pain (OR=2.28, 95% Cl; 1.01-5.13). Less than half (44.2%) of the respondents had sought medical advices for
their pain symptoms. About 40.1% of teachers had managed their pains with home remedies.
Conclusions: Knee pain was the predominant pain symptom among teacher. Years of experience, having three or
more children, number of students in the class room, were other determinants of pain symptoms
