Socio demographic and clinical correlates of knee pain in adult women attending a primary care clinic.

AIMS AND

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the study were to determine the socio demographic and clinical correlates of knee pain in women in a primary care clinic.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

The study was a cross-sectional survey of 400 women attending the General Outpatients' clinic of the University College Hospital (U.C.H.), Ibadan, Nigeria using the systematic random sampling technique.

RESULTS

The prevalence of knee pain was 42.0% (95% CI 40.0- 41.0). The radiographic findings in the knees showed mostly osteophytes in 24 out of the 28(85.7%) respondents who had radiographs done. The highest prevalence of knee pain was found in caterers and traders, 62.5% and 51.6%, respectively (p= 0.001). Multivariate analysis done using logistic regression with a backward selection showed that the odds of developing knee pain increases with age (Odds Ratio=1.585, 95% CI 1.321-1.903, p=0.000), and body mass index (Odds Ratio 1.587, 95% CI 1.295-1.946, p=0.000).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of knee pain in women seen at the primary care clinic is high. Preventive measures for knee pain need to be instituted.