Prevalence of and factors associated with low back pain among construction workers in Mogadishu, Somalia
- 1Department of Public and Global Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi
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.
Methods: 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).
Results: 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.
Conclusion: 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.
Related
- Prevalence of burnout syndrome and associated factors among nurses in Mogadishu, Somalia: a multicenter cross-sectional study
- Prevalence and factors associated with obesity among healthcare workers in Oman: a cross-sectional study
- Digital violence against healthcare workers in Heilongjiang Province of China: prevalence and associated factors
- Prevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B surface antibody seroprotection among healthcare workers undergoing laboratory testing at Eastgate Clinic, Windhoek, Namibia: A retrospective cross-sectional study
- Factors Associated With Skilled Birth Attendance Among Internally Displaced Women in Mogadishu, Somalia: A Community‐Based Cross‐Sectional Study
BibTeX
@article{ali2026prevalence,
title = {{Prevalence of and factors associated with low back pain among construction workers in Mogadishu, Somalia}},
author = {Abdikani Yasin Haji Ali and Kellen J. Karimi and Marshal M. Mweu},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1978211},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1978211/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Prevalence of and factors associated with low back pain among construction workers in Mogadishu, Somalia
AU - Abdikani Yasin Haji Ali
AU - Kellen J. Karimi
AU - Marshal M. Mweu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1978211
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1978211/full
AB - 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. Methods: 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). Results: 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. Conclusion: 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.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -