Introduction Low back pain (LBP) is one of the leading musculoskeletal disorders and it is a disabling occupational hazard. It is also a common cause of morbidity among the healthcare staff within were more vulnerable to LBP.

Objectives This study aimed to assess prevalence of LBP among healthcare staff and identify the socio-occupational hazards of this morbidity.

Methods This is a cross-sectional study, carried out over 14 months, with 300 healthcare staff from two university hospitals in Tunisian center. It is based on an analysis of socio-occupational profile, the assesement of the Work Ability Index (WAI), the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire as well as assessment tests of physical condition and flexibility of the spine (hand-floor distance; sit-stand test; balance test)

Results The sex ratio of the sample was 1.06, the average age was 42.64 ±11.65. 20% of the healthcare staff in the sample had a BMI larger than 30 and 51.9% of them did not practice any regular sports activity. The perceived physical workload was considered « heavy » by 41.6% of the staff questioned. 75% of the healthcare staff in the sample had a good to excellent work ability according to the WAI. Over the 12 months preceding the survey, two third of the healthcare staff in the sample complained of LBP, with pain assessed as ‘severe’ or ‘extremely severe’ in 54.4% of cases. The LBP was statistically correlated with female gender (p=0.01) and with impaired work ability (p<10^-3). The average finger-ground distance was 7.10 ± 7.5 cm and it was statistically correlated with LBP (p=0.05), with age (p<10^-3), with seniority (p<10^-3) and with a BMI ≥ 25 (p=10^-3).

Conclusion LBP persists as a real health problem among healthcare staff with heavy professional and social repercussions. Reducing their prevalence and impact is based on improving working conditions and multidisciplinary care.