Low Back Pain in Pregnant Women: Prevalence and Associated Factors in Two Maternity Hospitals in Conakry (Guinea)

Introduction: Low back pain is the main complaint of musculoskeletal discomfort in pregnant women. The objective was to describe the prevalence and factors associated with the occurrence of low back pain in pregnant women in Conakry (Guinea). Patients-Methods: Cross-sectional study from March 1 to August 31, 2023 in the Gynaecology-Obstetrics departments of the Ignace Deen University Hospital and the Ratoma Communal Medical Center (Conakry). Pregnant women suffering from low back pain were included. We did not include pregnant women with a history of low back pain and those who had undergone spinal surgery. Results: We collected 708 pregnant women. The mean age of the pregnant women was 30.6 ± 7.3 years (range: 15 years to 51 years). Two hundred and forty-three (34.3%) of them had low back pain. Of the 243 women with low back pain, 38.7% were primigravidas. A statistically significant difference was found between the age groups and the occurrence of low back pain (p-value = 0.0085). According to the intensity of the low back pain, it was moderate in 57 primigravidas and 87 multigravidas. Subacute low back pain was encountered in 35 multigravidas versus 24 primigravidas. The aggravating factor of the pain was postural (51, 37%), while 36.2% of the pregnant women did not describe any aggravating factors. Carrying weight aggravated low back pain in 129 multigravidas and 86 primigravidas. No statistically significant differences were found between gestational age, occurrence of low back pain during previous pregnancies, number of children of the pregnant woman and being primigravida or multigravida. Conclusion: Low back pain, common and occurring mostly in the second trimester of pregnancy, has a gradual onset and ranges from moderate to severe intensity. This frequency calls for systematic research for better management.