Effect of Schoolbag Weight on Musculoskeletal Pain among Primary School Children in Yaounde, Cameroon: A Cross-sectional Study

Authors

  • Wiliam Richard Guessogo National Institute of Youth and Sports, Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • Peguy Brice Assomo-Ndemba Faculty of Medicine, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon
  • Edmond Ebal-Minye National Institute of Youth and Sports, Yaounde, Cameroon
  • Jerson Mekoulou-Ndongo Exercise and Sport Physiology and Medicine Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, Cameroon
  • Claude Bryan Bika-Lélé Exercise and Sport Physiology and Medicine Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, Cameroon
  • William Mbang-Bian National Institute of Youth and Sports, Yaounde, Cameroon
  • Eva Linda Djuine-Soh National Institute of Youth and Sports, Yaounde, Cameroon
  • Jean Bertrand Ondoa National Institute of Youth and Sports, Yaounde, Cameroon
  • Samuel Honoré Mandengue Exercise and Sport Physiology and Medicine Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, Cameroon
  • Abdou Temfemo Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Cameroon

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2020.485

Keywords:

Weight-Bearing, Musculoskeletal Pain, Primary School, Cameroon

Abstract

Background: Heavy schoolbag is known to cause health problems for school children. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of carrying heavy schoolbags on the musculoskeletal pain among primary school children of the two subsystems in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in primary schools in Yaounde. A total of 457 school-children (8.2 ± 2.2 years) were included, 202 from the French-speaking subsystem, and 255 from the English-speaking subsystem. Parameters studied included weight, height, and schoolbag weight. A questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic information and potential musculoskeletal pain in three regions: back, shoulders, and neck.

Results: The mean weight of children and their bags was 28.4 ± 8.2 kg and 5.2 ± 2.3 kg respectively. More than 50% of schoolchildren in the two subsystems carried a schoolbag weighing more than 15% of body weight. The back (38%) was the least affected area in comparison to the shoulders (58.6%) and neck (42.4%) (p < 0.001). Carrying heavy bags and walking to school was associated with pain in the back, shoulders, and neck. School-children in the French-speaking subsystem had lower risk (adjusted Odds Ratio 0.438, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 0.295-0.651; p < 0.001) to develop a sore neck compared to peers from the English-speaking subsystem.

Conclusion: Carrying heavy schoolbags is associated to musculoskeletal pain in schoolchildren. The means moving to and from school is a main risk factor of developing musculoskeletal pain. French-speaking schoolchildren develop less neck pain than English-speaking schoolchildren.

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Author Biographies

Wiliam Richard Guessogo, National Institute of Youth and Sports, Yaoundé, Cameroon

PhD

Peguy Brice Assomo-Ndemba , Faculty of Medicine, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon

MD, PhD

Edmond Ebal-Minye, National Institute of Youth and Sports, Yaounde, Cameroon

PhD

Jerson Mekoulou-Ndongo, Exercise and Sport Physiology and Medicine Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, Cameroon

PhD

Claude Bryan Bika-Lélé, Exercise and Sport Physiology and Medicine Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, Cameroon

PhD

William Mbang-Bian, National Institute of Youth and Sports, Yaounde, Cameroon

MSc

Eva Linda Djuine-Soh , National Institute of Youth and Sports, Yaounde, Cameroon

MSc

Jean Bertrand Ondoa, National Institute of Youth and Sports, Yaounde, Cameroon

MSc

Samuel Honoré Mandengue, Exercise and Sport Physiology and Medicine Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, Cameroon

PhD

Abdou Temfemo, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Cameroon

PhD

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Published

2020-08-31

How to Cite

Guessogo, W. R., Assomo-Ndemba , P. B., Ebal-Minye, E., Mekoulou-Ndongo, J., Bika-Lélé, C. B., Mbang-Bian, W., Djuine-Soh , E. L., Ondoa, J. B. ., Mandengue, S. H., & Temfemo, A. (2020). Effect of Schoolbag Weight on Musculoskeletal Pain among Primary School Children in Yaounde, Cameroon: A Cross-sectional Study. International Journal of Medical Students, 8(2), 96–101. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2020.485

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 2 (2020)

Section

Original Article

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