This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, severity, consequences and associated factors of low-back pain (LBP) in Saudi schoolchildren. This crosssectional study included 311 students (13.37±1.36 years). They completed selfreported questionnaire and 87students underwent a spine medical examination. The cumulative lifetime prevalence of LBP was 31.5%. LBP was responsible for 66% and 60% of school and sports absenteeism respectively. Medical care requirement was observed in 25.5%.Chi-square analysis showed that ten factors were associated with LBP: age, gender, body mass index, dissatisfaction with school chair, way of handling school bag, family history of LBP, watching television (TV), and spine and sports injuries. Stepwise logistic regression revealed three predictors of LBP: gender, odd ratio (OR) =7.13 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.97-17.14), dissatisfaction with school chair, OR=2.89 (95% CI, 1.76-4.75) and watching TV, OR=2.67 (95% CI, 1.6-4.45).This high prevalence requires preventive measures and longitudinal studies, which are very important from the standpoint of public health.
