Pattern of musculoskeletal pain among Christians and Islamic faithfuls in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among Muslim has been reported in several populations, but there is a dearth of knowledge on its prevalence and pattern in Nigeria. This study reported the pattern of musculoskeletal pain among Christians and Muslims in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. The survey instrument for this study was adopted Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. The study involved 240 participants (120 Christians & 120 Muslims) who are non-academic staff of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria. The data collected was analysed using descriptive and interferential statistics. Level of significance was set at 0.05. Result shows that musculoskeletal pain is more prevalent at low back in Muslims (92.5%) than that in Christians (89.2%); knee pain in Christians (79.2%) greater than that in Muslims (77. 5%); neck in Muslims (26.7%) than that in Christians (21.7%); shoulder in Muslims (35.0%) than that in Christians (25.0%). Among Christians and Muslims there is association between pain intensity at p=0.001 and each of sex (Christians, X² = 343.042, Muslims, X² = 12.644,) occupation (Christians X² = 28.897, Muslims X² = 364.850) and marital status (Christians X² = 335.680, Muslims X² = 11.534, p = 0.031).In conclusion the study shows that all the participants in the study have had musculoskeletal pain in one or more body sites with low back pain and knee pain being the most prevalent among both the Christians and Muslims. More Muslims had pain in many body part than there counterpart Christian.

Key words:

Muslim, Christian, musculoskeletal pain, occupation, marital status

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