RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCHOOL BACKPACKS AND MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN AMONG JORDANIAN PREPARATORY SCHOOLCHILDREN

Authors : Marwa Saleh, Mostafa Ali

Pages : 791-800

Doi:10.33715/inonusaglik.1706170

View : 52 | Download : 45

Publication Date : 2025-10-16

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The association between school bag weight and Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) in schoolchildren is still being debated globally. So, this study was conducted to investigate this association among Jordanian preparatory schoolchildren. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 647 preparatory school students aged 12 to 15 years. The survey was conducted using a questionnaire that included the collection of data on the demographic and personality characteristics of the participants, followed by the use of a standardized Nordic questionnaire to determine the presence of MSDs. The child\\\'s weight and bag weight were measured by a digital scale, and the ratio of bag weight to body weight was then calculated. The findings showed that the bags of 56.6% of students exceeded 10% of their body weight, with a significant relationship between the prevalence of MSDs and the bag weight to body weight ratio (P = 0.01). Significant differences were also identified, showing a notably higher prevalence of these disorders among female students (P = 0.01) and among those in higher grades compared to their peers in lower grades (P < 0.001). There is a high prevalence of MSDs among preparatory school students in Amman, Jordan, with a clear association with bag weight, gender, and school level.
Keywords : Bag Weight, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Preparatory School, Prevalence

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