A study on the health status of professional drivers in national routes and regional roads
Uruguay 2021
Abstract
Introduction: road accidents are a Public Health issue. The UNASEV (National Unit of Road Safety) reported that 422 people died in road accidents in 2019, and 52% of them died in national routes. The human factor is a key element in this multi-factor phenomenon, and therefore, the health status of route professional drivers is extremely important. There are no specific studies addressing this aspect in our country.
Objective: to learn about the health-disease status of professional drivers in the land freight or passenger transport sector, who work in national and regional routes between May and August 2021.
Method: descriptive, transversal study focusing on drivers over 18 years old, holder of professional drivers’ licenses, who cover distances greater than 100 km during a working day in national routes and the primary network of the National Road Network. A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was used.
Results: 112 drivers answered the questionnaire, 97.3% of which were male. Average age was 43.5 years old, and most of them came from Canelones (24.1%), Montevideo and San José (16.1%) respectively. 67.8% were transporting loads and 59.8% thought their health status was good. As to diseases, osteoarticular conditions prevailed (55.3% had back pain). In terms of lifestyle, drivers declared they slept 6.74 hours per day on average, and 39.3% stated they needed to stop driving in order to sleep. 77.8% led a sedentary life, 65.2% used some kind of medication, and in the last month, 98.8% consumed mate (national infusion), 19.64% alcohol and 2 drivers used cocaine. 54.5% stated they had no primary physician.
Discussion: a discussion was held with the Coordinating Entity of Transport Unions, the National Association of Route Transport Companies (ANETRA) and UNASEV. The under-declaration of diseases and consumption of medication and substances are reasons of concern, and proposals were made to improve the health care services of workers and their access to a primary physician.
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