School Bag Packs and Associated Problems among School Going Children

Abstract

Objective The objective of this study was to assess school backpacks and associated problems across school going children aged 8–12 years in Lahore, Pakistan. Self-perceived pain related to bag pack use, correlation between self-reported pain and perceived weight of bag pack, duration of bag pack carriage and the method of bag pack carriage were evaluated.

Methodology A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 3500 students from different private schools across Lahore. Both male and female students from the age of 8–12 years that were present on the day of the study with no apparent physical deformity or any musculoskeletal disorder were included in the study. Questionnaire used in this study was a modified questionnaire from a previous study.

Data collected through questionnaire was coded into SPSS version 18.

Data was represented in the form of graphs, tables, cross tabs and bar charts. Chi square test of association was applied with p value<0.05 considered as significant.

Results The results indicate that 82% of students surveyed carry bag packs, 54.66% of the students perceived the weight of their bag pack heavy, 40.22% medium while only 5.12% reported their bag pack lightly weighed. Pain was higher in individuals who perceived their bag pack weight heavy (i. e., 48%) pain, who carried their bag pack for over 20 min (44%) pain and over 30 min (56%) pain, respectively. Similarly percentage of pain was higher in individuals who carried their bag pack at one shoulder (i. e., 74%) pain.

Conclusion The results of the present study show that there is a relationship between bag pack use, duration and method of bag pack carriage this suggests that heavy, medium and light bag packs may have damaging effects for the school going children. A study to compare children who follow and that do not follow the recommended guidelines should be conducted to find out the guidelines could help reduce back pain, the bag pack guidelines have addressed bag pack weight and duration of carriage should be considered.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel Mit dieser Studie sollte der Zusammenhang zwischen dem Tragen eines Schulrucksacks und körperlichen Beschwerden bei Schulkindern im Alter von 8–12 Jahren in Lahore, Pakistan, beurteilt werden. Untersucht wurden die subjektiv wahrgenommene Stärke der Rückenschmerzen in Zusammenhang mit dem Tragen des Rucksacks sowie der Zusammenhang zwischen subjektiver Stärke der Rückenschmerzen und subjektiv wahrgenommenem Gewicht des Rucksacks, der Tragedauer und der Handhabung beim Tragen.

Methoden Es wurde eine Querschnittsstudie mit 3500 Schülern unterschiedlicher Privatschulen in Lahore durchgeführt. In die Studie eingeschlossen waren Schülerinnen und Schüler im Alter von 8–12 Jahren, die am Durchführungstag der Studie anwesend waren und nicht unter einer körperlichen Fehlbildung oder Erkrankung des Bewegungsapparats litten. In dieser Studie wurde ein modifizierter Fragebogen aus einer früheren Studie verwendet. Die mittels Fragebogen erhobenen Daten wurden in SPSS Version 18 eingegeben. Die Daten wurden in Form von Graphiken, Tabellen, Kreuztabellen und Balkendiagrammen dargestellt. Ausgewertet wurde mittels Chi-Quadrat-Test und bei einem p-Wert<0,05 wurde der Zusammenhang als signifikant eingestuft.

Ergebnisse Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass 82% aller Schulkinder einen Rucksack tragen, 54,66% empfanden ihren Rucksack als schwer, 40,22% als mittelschwer und nur 5,12% gaben an, dass ihr Rucksack leicht sei. Schülerinnen und Schülern, die ihren Rucksack als schwer empfanden, gaben an, unter größeren Schmerzen zu leiden (48%), ebenso Schulkinder, die ihren Rucksack länger als 20 Min trugen (44%) und länger als 30 Min (56%). Die Prozentzahl derer, die angaben, unter Schmerzen zu leiden, war größer, wenn der Rucksack einseitig auf einer Schulter getragen wurde (74%).

Schlussfolgerung Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie zeigen einen Zusammenhang zwischen dem Tragen eines Rucksacks, der Dauer und Art des Tragens; schwere, mittelschwere und leichte Rucksäcke können eine schädigende Wirkung auf Schulkinder haben. Es sollte eine Studie durchgeführt werden, in der Kinder, welche die empfohlenen Richtlinien befolgen, mit solchen verglichen werden, die diese nicht befolgen, um festzustellen, ob durch diese Richtlinie Rückenschmerzen verringert werden können. In diesen Richtlinien wurde das Gewicht von Rucksäcken und die Tragedauer berücksichtigt.

Key words

adolescent - low back pain - bag pack

Schlüsselwörter

Jugendlichen - Rückenschmerzen - Rucksack

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