THE EFFECTS OF SCHOOLBAG ON PAIN PERCEPTION AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ERBIL- IRAQ

Abstract

Background and objectives: School bags or backpacks are bag for carrying textbooks and school supplies. The study aims to assess the pain perception among primary school student's schoolbag carriage. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, which was conducted from 15^th November, 2015 to 15^th November, 2016. A cluster (multi-stage) probability sample of 359 students who attended public and private basic schools in Erbil city was used. A Visual Analog Scale tool was used to find level of pain. Validity and reliability of the instruments was tested through Visual Analogue Scale. P-value = 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Students between age group of 11-12 years were taken for the experiment. Students carried two straps type school bag on two shoulders and had healthy weight, but the weight of the school bag exceeded 10% of their body weight. Students in public schools came to the school walking, but in the private schools students came to the school by the car or bus. There was a highly significant association and difference between   public and private school and about the way and the weight of the school bag they carried. There was a non-significant association with both genders in public and private school and pain perception. Conclusion: The students carrying school bag at their 10% of body weight felt moderate pain. There was no significant difference between bag weight with male and female students. The backpack weight percentile is recommended to be reduced to = 10% of body weight.