Assessment of idiopathic scoliosis among adolescents and associated factors in Palestine

• Published in: Journal of pediatric nursing 2024-01, Vol.74, p.85-91
• Main Authors: Almahmoud, Omar H., Baniodeh, Baraa, Musleh, Reem, Asmar, Sanabel, Zyada, Mohammed, Qattousah, Hadeel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis; Palestine; Prevalence; Risk factors
• ISSN: 0882-5963; 1532-8449
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2023.11.022

This study aimed to investigate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and its related risk factors, including body mass index (BMI), physical activity (PA), gender, time of the first menstrual cycle, transportation, backpack weight and the way of carrying a backpack. a cross-sectional quantitative design was utilized. A convenient sample of adolescent students in grades seven through ten was included in the study. A self-reported questionnaire with three sections: demographic data; physical data including height, weight and PA; and Adam's forward bend test to determine each student's spine's Cobb angle by measuring the angle of trunk rotation using a scoliometer. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, with confidence intervals of 95%. A total of 820 schoolchildren participated in the study; 53.7% were female and 46.3% were male. Only 22% of these students engaged in vigorous exercise, compared to 36.7% who engaged in low PA; additionally, 10% of the adolescents had a low BMI. After the analysis, it was found that 5.4% of participants had AIS. Low PA (p = 0.001), being underweight (p = 0.038), and time of first menstrual period (p = 0.033) were significantly associated with AIS, while gender, backpack weight, and way of carrying were not statistically related to AIS. Binary logistic regression identified low PA as an independent predictor of AIS (OR = 7.22, 95%CI [1.64, 31.79]). The frequency of AIS in Palestine was significant, which highlighted the importance of this issue at a national and global level. There was an association between AIS and BMI, PA, and the time of the first menstrual cycle, which signifies the importance of early detection of the problem to limit its burden later in life. Teachers, teenagers, and their parents should be provided with programs that educate and clarify AIS, and a specific protocol should be established for scoliosis screening in schools. •The study analysis revealed a significant rate (5.4%) of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in Palestine.•Adolescents' BMI, physical activity, and time of the first menses were significantly associated with AIS.•Low physical activity has been identified as an independent predictor of AIS.•Early screening is crucial for preventing the problem burden later in life.