Abstract:
Low back pain (LBP) is a major public health problem in the world. It is estimated that 60% of all employees
experience LBP at some point in their life during their employment career. It is also the most prevalent musculoskeletal condition in rural communities in Kenya and it is estimated that 64% of the tea pickers are suffering
from LBP in Kenya, of these, 29% had a history of back pain before they started picking tea. The study aimed at
determining the prevalence and assessing the occupational risk factors of LBP among tea pickers and non-tea
pickers in James Finlay (K) Limited tea estates in Kericho County. Data were collected using structured
questionnaires. Bivariate, multivariate analysis and Pearson’s chi square (χ2) test was used to measure the
associations. This study was a cross-sectional comparative study that sampled 454 adults (335 tea pickers and
119 non-tea pickers). The prevalence of LBP was found to be 45.4% (125/335) and 39.5% (47/119) among tea
pickers and non-tea pickers respectively. The following characteristics were significant at bivariate level
including age, parity and duration of work were found to be related to LBP among tea pickers and non-tea
pickers (χ2=8.643; P=0.034 and χ2=6.013; p=0.049) respectively. However, the number of hours worked per day
was significantly associated with LBP among tea pickers only (χ2=17.192; p=0.000). Further, the number of
kilograms of tea leaves picked and the number of kgs carried per day was also significantly associated with LBP
(χ2=16.882; p=0.000 and χ2=15.978; p=0.001) respectively. There was also a significant association of LBP
with carrying of heavy load and how one sharpened farm tools among the non tea pickers who reported to have
suffered LBP (χ2=13.129; p=0.000 and χ2=4.125; p=0.042) respectively. However, age (p=0.0022; 95% CI -9.4-
7); absenteeism from work (P=0.010; 95% CI 2.7-19.5), work duration per day (P=0.000; 95% CI 23.1-38.5),
type of occupation (P=0.000; 95% CI 62.2-79.3) and the no. of Kgs (P=0.011; 95% CI -17.8-2.3) carried were
found to contribute independently to LBP among tea pickers whereas absenteeism from work (P=0.000; 95% CI
11.9-29.1), work duration per day (P=0.000; 95% CI 69.8-86.8), alcohol uptake (P=0.008; 95% CI 3.2-20.7),
heavy load carried (P=0.018; 95% CI 1.8-18.2) and work duration (P=0.002; 95% CI -14.3-3.2) among non-tea
pickers were also found to contribute independently to LBP. The prevalence of LBP was found to be high among
both tea and non-tea pickers. We recommend that there is need to consider reviewing tea picking policies for
instance introduction of tea picking devices in order to alleviate occupational health hazards associated with tea
picking
