{
  "abstract": "Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability, particularly in labor-intensive industries. While biomechanical hazards are well-documented in developed nations, epidemiological data from unregulated construction sectors in post-conflict regions remains extremely scarce. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and identify factors associated with LBP among manual construction workers in Mogadishu, Somalia.\n\nMethods: An analytic cross-sectional study was conducted among 191 manual workers recruited via stratified random sampling from five major construction companies. Data were collected using a culturally-adapted Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire to assess socio-demographic, lifestyle, and occupational exposures. We utilized a multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression model, accounting for clustering by company, to identify independent associated factors. Results are reported as adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).\n\nResults: The workforce was notably young (median age = 26 years), registering an LBP period prevalence of 51.9% (95% CI: 43.5–60.3%). In the adjusted analysis, income status was the strongest predictor, with workers living below extreme poverty facing elevated odds of LBP (AOR = 7.60; 95% CI: 2.48–23.28). Other factors significantly associated included possessing over six years of work experience (AOR = 4.85; 95% CI: 1.56–15.11), being underweight (AOR = 5.22; 95% CI: 1.24–21.94), tobacco use (AOR = 5.70; 95% CI: 1.94–16.78), and inadequate sleep duration of fewer than six hours (AOR = 4.11; 95% CI: 1.28–13.24). Biomechanically, frequency of heavy lifting (AOR = 4.29; 95% CI: 1.26–14.56) and bending (AOR = 5.35; 95% CI: 1.33–21.45) were strongly associated with reporting LBP.\n\nConclusion: LBP is highly prevalent among construction workers in Mogadishu. The factors associated with LBP were extreme poverty, inadequate physiological tissue recovery, and severe biomechanical overload. Mitigating this crisis requires site-level ergonomic interventions, such as team-lifting protocols, alongside overarching policies that establish baseline wages to address foundational socioeconomic hazards.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Public and Global Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Abdikani Yasin Haji Ali"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kellen J. Karimi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Marshal M. Mweu"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5bz00yjvhbma2.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fpubh.2026.1978211",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13736725/",
  "id": "5bz00yjvhbma2",
  "issns": [
    "2296-2565"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1978211/full",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Original Research"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2736|Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223173927",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1978211/pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13736725",
  "pmid": "42991757",
  "published": "2026-10-22",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5bz00yjvhbma2.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:24Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fpubh.2026.1978211",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1978211/full"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-09T12:22:07Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13736725",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1978211"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2736|Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation",
      "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Prevalence of and factors associated with low back pain among construction workers in Mogadishu, Somalia",
  "title_text": "Prevalence of and factors associated with low back pain among construction workers in Mogadishu, Somalia",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T12:22:07Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5bz00yjvhbma2",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Public Health",
  "versions": []
}