Abstract
Background and aims: Back pain is one of the most common and often neglected problems in pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of back pain and its associated risk factors during the trimesters of pregnancy in pregnant women referring to selected healthcare centers in Shahrekord from 2022 to 2023. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 521 eligible pregnant women referring to selected holistic healthcare centers in Shahrekord, Iran, during 2022-2023. Data were collected using a demographic characteristics checklist completed as a self-report, and the presence of back pain was evaluated based on the perception and feeling that the mother herself had of any pain in the lower back area. The data were analyzed using SPSS (version 26), and P<0.05 was considered the significance level. Results: The prevalence of back pain in pregnant women was 62.7% in general, with a significant difference among trimesters of pregnancy (P<0.001). Among the investigated risk factors, there was a significant association between employment (P=0.01), type of delivery (P=0.002), type of anesthesia (P<0.001), history of back pain before pregnancy (P<0.001), and standing break of more than three hours (P<0.001) and the prevalence of back pain. In addition, increasing gestational age (P<0.001, odds ratio=1.308, 95% confidence interval=1.255–1.363) was a significant predictor of back pain in pregnancy. Conclusion: The results revealed that more than half of women experience back pain during pregnancy, and the most powerful factor in the prevalence of this disorder is increasing gestational age. Considering the high prevalence and effects of pain on the quality of life of pregnant women, it is important for service providers to identify and develop policies and design effective interventions to prevent or solve this problem.
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