Flat Foot and Associated Factors among University Students Aged 18-25 Years: A University-Based Study

Background: In various human postural studies, foot is considered to be a rigid body. The flat foot, also referred to as the acquired disorder of the flat foot, results from the subsidence of the arches of the feet. Usually, in an upright position, the middle margin of the sole of the foot does not touch the ground. The condition of flatfoot can affect the healthy lifestyle and the weight management for an individual. But the burden of the flat foot in young adults is unknown. Aim: The objective of this study is to identify the prevalence of flat foot and investigate its associated factors among university students aged 18-25. Materials and Methods: A university cross sectional study was conducted on students between the ages of 18 and 25. The data collection consisted in physical measurements, measurements based on the footprint while fully bearing the weight to analyze the structure of the medial foot arch using the Staheli arch index and their footwear types. Data were analysed through chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression model. Results: In total, 875 university students participated. The overall incidence rate for the flat foot was found to be 29.37% for entire study sample, accounting 31.79%, 15% and 26.54% for Chinese, Tanzanian, and Indian students respectively. Uni-variate analysis found that gender and the shoe types often worn were not the influencing factors of flat foot, but multivariate regression analysis showed that age, BMI, nationality and shoe type were the influencing factors of flat foot. Conclusion: Results from this study showed overall prevalence of flatfoot close to 30% and a negative correlation between age and incidence of flat foot for college students aged 18-25 years.