Low back pain affects 53% of Africans at any point, 75% annuallyHigh Rates of Low Back Pain Found in African Populations
Frontiers in MedicinePublished August 27, 2026Study authors: Loveness A. Nkhata, Dominique Leibbrandt, Dominic Fisher, Chinonso Igwesi-Chidobe, Linzette D. Morri…DOI ↗Editorial oversight: Dr. Ji-eun Park, MD · Brain, Mind & Pain
AI-generated summary of the cited source, checked by automated accuracy review.
How we work
Share
Key Takeaway
Recognize the high prevalence of low back pain in African populations and prioritize workplace prevention.
This meta-analysis pooled data from 26 studies involving 14,339 participants across African populations, including general population, healthcare workers, transportation workers, teachers, manufacturing workers, and pregnant women. The primary outcomes were point, 12-month, and lifetime prevalence of low back pain (LBP).
Pooled prevalence estimates were 53% (95% CI 40–65%) for point prevalence, 75% (95% CI 65–84%) for annual prevalence, and 65% (95% CI 54–76%) for lifetime prevalence. These figures indicate a substantial burden of LBP across the continent.
Occupational-specific estimates were notably high: healthcare workers had a point prevalence of 80% (95% CI 79–82%, I² = 0%), transportation workers had an annual prevalence exceeding 85%, and teachers and manufacturing workers had prevalences above 70%. Pregnancy-related LBP prevalence ranged from 46% to 75%.
The authors noted substantial heterogeneity and imprecision across studies, leading to low-to-moderate certainty of evidence. Adverse events and follow-up duration were not reported.
These findings underscore the need for strengthened surveillance, workplace prevention strategies, and integration of musculoskeletal care into primary and occupational health services in African settings. However, given the observational nature of the included studies and the heterogeneity, results should be interpreted cautiously.
How this fits prior evidence
This meta-analysis extends prior coverage on low back pain by quantifying the burden in African populations, where data were previously sparse. The high prevalence estimates (point 53%, annual 75%) align with the chronic nature of LBP seen in other contexts, such as the modest increased risk of diabetes in LBP patients. It complements prior findings on specific interventions (e.g., Tai Chi, VR) by emphasizing the need for population-level prevention and occupational health strategies, rather than treatment efficacy alone.
A large review of 25 different studies looked at the prevalence of low back pain in African populations. The study included a wide range of people, including the general public, healthcare workers, transportation workers, teachers, manufacturing workers, and pregnant women. Because the data came from many different sources, the level of certainty for these findings ranges from low to moderate.
The results show that low back pain is very common. About 53% of people reported having back pain at a specific point in time, while 75% reported experiencing it within a year. The study also found that many specific groups face high rates of pain. For example, 80% of healthcare workers and over 85% of transportation workers reported annual back pain. Teachers and manufacturing workers also reported high rates of over 70%.
For pregnant women, the reported prevalence of back pain ranged from 46% to 75%. These findings suggest that back pain is a significant issue in these communities. Because the data is varied, these numbers should be used to help plan better workplace safety and healthcare services. You should speak with a healthcare provider to discuss your specific symptoms and needs.
What this means for you:
Low back pain is very common among various workers and pregnant women in African populations.
Common questions
How common is low back pain in these groups?
The study found that low back pain is very common. About 53% of people had pain at a specific point in time, and 75% experienced it within a year. Among specific groups, 80% of healthcare workers and over 85% of transportation workers reported annual back pain.
Does pregnancy increase the risk of back pain?
The data shows that between 46% and 75% of pregnant women reported experiencing low back pain. These figures highlight that back pain is a common concern during pregnancy.
Is the evidence for these findings certain?
The certainty of the evidence ranges from low to moderate. This is because the data came from many different studies that had a lot of variation and some imprecision. These findings are used to help improve workplace safety and health services.
Study Details
Study typeMeta analysis
EvidenceLevel 1
PublishedAug 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
Occupational low back pain (LBP) represents a major and under-characterized health burden among African workers. While pan-continental LBP prevalence data exist for the general population, occupationally stratified meta-analytic estimates have never been produced for the full African continent. Evidence from Africa remains fragmented, with no existing review integrating occupational, general population, and pregnancy-related LBP within a single pan-continental synthesis. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to generate the first occupationally stratified pooled prevalence estimates of LBP across African populations and to update continental prevalence figures from studies published between 2017 and 2025.
A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Seven bibliographic databases and two regional indexes (nine information sources in total) were searched for studies published between May 2017 and August 2025. Eligible studies reported point, 12-month, or lifetime LBP prevalence in African populations. Methodological quality was assessed using a validated 10-item appraisal tool. Random-effects meta-analyses used restricted maximum likelihood (REML) estimation with Hartung–Knapp adjustment to provide conservative 95% confidence intervals. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach.
Twenty-six studies from fifteen African countries involving 14,339 participants were included (sample size was reported in 25 of the 26 studies). Overall pooled prevalence estimates were 53% (95% CI 40–65%; k = 8 studies) for point prevalence, 75% (95% CI 65–84%; k = 5 studies) for annual prevalence, and 65% (95% CI 54–76%; k = 13 studies) for lifetime prevalence, with substantial heterogeneity across studies. Occupational subgroup analyses showed consistently high prevalence among healthcare workers (80%, 95% CI 79–82%, I2 = 0%; k = 6 studies). Transportation workers demonstrated annual prevalence exceeding 85%, and teachers and manufacturing workers showed pooled prevalence above 70%. Pregnancy-related LBP prevalence ranged from 46 to 75% across included studies. Certainty of evidence ranged from low to moderate, mainly due to heterogeneity and imprecision.
Low back pain represents a substantial and unevenly distributed health burden across African populations, with particularly high prevalence in occupational groups exposed to physical workload. These findings highlight the need for strengthened surveillance, workplace prevention strategies, and integration of musculoskeletal care into primary and occupational health services in African settings.
