Identification of Factors Associated with Low Back Pain among Online Motorcycle Taxi Drivers in Denpasar

Abstract

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a musculoskeletal complaint widely experienced worldwide, including among online motorcycle taxi drivers. Several factors related to LBP include sex, age, body mass index (BMI), length of work, sitting posture, sitting duration, and smoking. Low back pain can reduce the productivity of online motorcycle taxi drivers. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the factors related to LBP among online motorcycle taxi drivers in Denpasar.

Methods: An analytical observational design with a cross-sectional approach and a purposive sampling technique. Participants were online motorcycle taxi drivers who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and anthropometric measurements and were analyzed using univariate analysis, the chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test, with a significance level of p < 0.05.

Results: The prevalence of low back pain was 68.1% (47 respondents). Statistical analysis demonstrated  significant associations between BMI ≥ 23 kg/m² (p = 0.040), sitting duration ≥ 9 hours/day (p = 0.015), and non-ergonomic sitting posture (p = 0.033) with LBP. Meanwhile, sex (p = 1.000), age (p = 1.000), length of work (p = 0.860), and smoking (p = 0.296) were not significantly associated with LBP.

Conclusions: Sitting duration, sitting posture, and BMI were significantly associated with low back pain among online motorcycle taxi drivers in Denpasar.