Prevalence and Influencing Factors of Scoliosis Among Primary and Secondary School Students: A School-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Chongqing, China.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of scoliosis among primary and secondary school students in Chongqing, China, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of the disease.

METHODS

From September to October 2022, primary and secondary school students in Chongqing were selected for scoliosis screening and questionnaire survey using a multistage sampling method. The scoliosis group and the normal group (the control group) were matched by propensity score matching (PSM) according to a ratio of 1:4. Individual characteristics were compared before and after matching, and conditional logistic regression analyses was used to analyze the influencing factors of scoliosis after matching.

RESULTS

The detection rate of scoliosis was 0.91% among 13,605 respondents. Differences in scoliosis detection rates by gender, age, and educational stage were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The results of the conditional logistic regression analysis after PSM showed that the time of outdoor activities, physical education classes, computer use, reading and writing time after school, regular adjustment of the height of desks and chairs according to the height of the students, the weight of the school bag and mattress softness were the factors influencing scoliosis.

CONCLUSION

Scoliosis is affected by a combination of factors, many of which are preventable. Therefore, families, schools and relevant authorities should pay attention to it and should strengthen the development of early screening, prevention and control.