FREQUENCY OF BACKACHE IN PREGNANCY WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CLINIC

Backache in Pregnant Women

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of backache and assess the efficacy of various treatment modalities used for the management of backache in pregnancy.

Study Design: Descriptive study.

Study Setting: Outpatient department of obstetric services, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore

Patients and Methods: Patients coming to the antenatal clinic during February 2004 were asked about history of backache.

Results: A total of 918 women with complete data were recruited. Four hundred and thirty-two (47.05%) reported one or more significant episodes of back pain during their pregnancy. Of these 96 (22.22%) noted ongoing back pain at the time they became pregnant leaving a true incidence rate of (36.60%). Twenty-one patients (4.86%) were less than 20 years, 407 (94.21%) were in between 20–40 years of age and 4 (0.92%) were above 40 years. Eighteen patients (4.16%) were less than 50kg, 345 (79.86%) had weight in between 50-70 kg and 69 (15.97%) were more than 70kg. Seventy-eight patients (18.05%) were primigravidas, 292 (67.59%) were multigravidas and 62 (14.35%) were grand multigravidas. Ninety-six patients (22.22%) had backache before pregnancy and 336 (77.77%) had it during pregnancy. No treatment was taken in 23 patients (5.32%), rest in 297 (68.75%), analgesic in 106 (24.52%) and massage by 6 (1.38%) patients. Subjective relief was up to 50.0% with rest, 75.0% with analgesics and up to 50.0% with massage.

Conclusion: Backache is quite common in pregnancy. About one quarter of all pregnant women experience backache. About half of the patients took treatment mainly in the form of rest and analgesia. Chiroptic practice is also common in pregnancy and it gives some relief as well.