Morpho-Physical and Psycho-Social Determinants of Low Back Pain in Midwives Population in Benin

Background: Low back pain is a real public health problem. Lots of studies have been done about it, but not in midwives group. The latter seem to be exposed to low back pain due to morphological, physical and psycho-social factors. We therefore study the place of these factors in the occurrence of low back pain in midwives. Method: Prospective, cross-sectional and analytical study, it is done with 102 midwives of university hospitals in Benin. They were interviewed and examined. An eventual link with their history of low back pain, for at least 3 months during the last 12 months before the study, was checked to their morphological aspects (spinal curvatures, BMI), physical examinations data (strength and muscular flexibility) and psycho-social factors (relationship with colleagues and either, stress, ...). The effect of these factors was assessed using relative risk (RR) with a 95% confidence interval. Results: Different morpho-physical and psychosocial disturbances were observed in midwives. 81% had a history of low back pain. The latter have a statistically significant relationship with the different factors studied. These were mostly exposure factors, but poor midwife relationship with their hierarchical superiors was a protective factor (RR = 0.69 and p = 0.0106). Discussion-Conclusion: In Benin, health workers and especially midwives are very exposed to low back pain. The latter are often associated with different morphological, physical and psycho-social disturbances. The knowledge of those parameters is interesting to reduce this high prevalence of low back pain in midwives.

Normative Values of Cardio-Respiratory Endurance in Adults in Benin

Cardiorespiratory endurance is a determining factor in the assessment of the state of health of a person. Objective: To determine the reference values for cardiorespiratory endurance in Beninese adults. Methods: Prospective transversal study, with a descriptive and analytical aim. It was carried out on healthy adult subjects (18 to 50 years old), of Cotonou and Abomey cities, from October 2017 to May 2018, without clinically identifiable orthopedic, cardiorespiratory, osteoarticular or neuromotor impairment. These subjects performed three different cardio-respiratory endurance tests: The six-minute walk test (WT6), cycloergometer test (CT) and the step test (ST). Data processing and analysis were done using SPSS version 22 software. A linear regression model was used to establish the prediction equation of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) with the WT6 data. The significance level chosen was 5%. Results: Subjects average age was 30.0 ± 9.8 years. It was especially men (54.20%), students (42.13%), with a normal corpulence (69.91%). At WT6, they walked 365 m to 798 m (557.1 ± 93.6 m) with extreme heart rates (EHR) of 67 to 189 (136.7 ± 19.0) beats per minute. At ST, the extreme powers developed were 2.7 watts/kg and 11.8 watts/kg (6.4 ± 1.8 watts/kg), with EHR of 99 to 204 (168.4 ± 15.4) beats per minute. The predictor equation of VO2 max by WT6 was function of the subject’s weight, age and sex (R = 0.73). Conclusion- Discussion: These normative values of cardio-respiratory endurance of Beninese subjects seem to be specific to them. An extension of the present study to a larger sample nevertheless seems desirable.

Results of Chronic Neck Pain Rehabilitation at Cotonou

Background: Neck pain is a real public health problem. Its treatment uses different techniques, such as functional rehabilitation, whose results are not widely popularized, from developing countries in Black Africa. Objective: To assess the result of rehabilitation of chronic common neck pain (CCNP) at the CNHU-HKM in Cotonou. Methods: Cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive and analytical study. It was carried out from May to September 2020, based on the files of former patients followed in functional rehabilitation department at CNHU-HKM in Cotonou, from 2015 to 2019, for CCNP. The result of rehabilitation was assessed based on the progress, between the start and the end of the rehabilitation sessions, of pain intensity, mobility of the cervical spine, muscle strength and functional capacity of the patient. Anova and chi-square tests were used for the analysis of factors associated with the result of rehabilitation. Results: The sample consisted to 73 patients. They were predominantly female (58.90%), with a mean age of 53.60 ± 14.08 years. The neck pain, at least of moderate intensity (97.26%), was present since 12.54 ± 8.54 months, on average. Patients have done 10 to 20 functional rehabilitation sessions, the result of which was satisfactory in 67.12%. This result was mainly associated with patient’s age, sports practice and the seniority of pain progression. Discussion-Conclusion: Rehabilitation results in the management of CCNP are interesting. They prove the need to sensitize patients and prescribers on the importance of early treatment of CCNP.