2025-2026 Faculty Research Grants

Sozina Katuli and Gerson DeLeon (Rehabilitation Sciences).

Factors contributing to low back pain among rice field workers in Tanzania.

Working in rice fields poses significant health challenges, particularly chronic low back pain (CLBP), a common issue among agricultural workers in underdeveloped countries. Poor body mechanics and limited resources exacerbate this condition (Liu Xiaotong et al., 2012). Globally, low back pain (LBP) is the 9th leading cause of Disability Adjusted Life Years (Shivakumar et al., 2024). In Tanzania, where rice is the second most important crop after corn (IRRI, 2018), labor-intensive tasks such as ploughing, paddling, weeding, and harvesting contribute to LBP. These tasks often involve prolonged awkward postures, including bending and twisting, which increase discomfort and the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (Gangopadhyay et al., 2005). Psychosocial and ergonomic challenges also exacerbate CLBP (Due et al., 2018), particularly in manual labor-dependent communities like Kihurio village, Tanzania. 

This study is a continuation of a larger project on developing a model on mission trips using proceed-precede model. Health needs assessment in this project in 2017-2021 identified back pain as one of the major health problems in this community. This study investigates factors contributing to LBP in rice-growing communities and explores corrective measures. Data will be collected from 180 rice farmers reporting back pain within the past six months. A structured survey will evaluate task types, durations, and body mechanics using validated pain assessment scales. Ergonomic analysis will identify high-risk activities, while demographic and psychosocial factors will also be examined. Multiple linear regression models will assess the relationships between
occupational factors, posture-related discomfort, and LBP. Findings will guide interventions to reduce LBP and improve working conditions for rice farmers.