Nutritional Status and Nutrient Adequacy of Food Consumed by Commercial Drivers in Abeokuta South Local Govt Area, Ogun State, Nigeria

Introduction: The nutritional status and adequacy of nutrients in the food consumed by commercial drivers have significant implications for their overall health, well-being, and job performance. Aims: The study assessed the nutritional status and nutrient adequacy of food consumed by commercial drivers in Abeokuta South Local Government area, Ogun State. Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to carry out this study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Major Parks of Abeokuta South Local Government from November 2019 to February 2020. Methodology: The data was obtained from randomly selected three hundred (300) commercial drivers in the major parks (Asero, Ijaiye, Kuti, and Sapon) of Abeokuta South Local Government. A structured-interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain data on the respondent’s demographics and socioeconomic characteristics, anthropometrics characteristics were assessed using a standardized method by trained anthropometrists, and the dietary intake of the respondents was obtained using a validated 24-hour recall questionnaire. Data were analyzed and presented using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: All (100%) of the respondents were males with a mean age of 38.7±0.49 years. The mean height and weight of the respondents were found to be 1.68±0.86 m and 68.50±8.47 kg respectively. More than half (59.7%) of the respondents had a normal BMI, 34.3% and 0.3% were overweight and obese respectively and only a few (5.7%) were underweight. The nutrient adequacy results revealed inadequacies of Vitamin C (83.3%), Vitamin B1 (66.7%), Vitamin B6 (79.3%), Calcium (89.3%), Zinc (53.3%), and Magnesium (70.7%). Conclusion: It is concluded that overweight, obesity, and micronutrients inadequacy is prevalent among commercial drivers. Malnutrition and micronutrient inadequacy among commercial drivers should be recognized as a public health problem and strategies to improve their status and nutrient intake should be implemented.

Knowledge and Attitude of Commercial Drivers in Benin City towards Utilization of Eye Care Services

Background: An excellent vision is crucial in driving and many driving related injuries and fatalities have been associated with visual problems especially for commercial drivers. Visual efficiency plays an important role during driving. This study determined the knowledge and attitude of commercial drivers in Benin towards utilization of eye care services. Method: This was a cross sectional study conducted among 100 commercial drivers in Benin City metropolis. Data was collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire, among commercial drivers from 3 major parks in Benin City. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyze the data. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results:The results revealedthat majorityofcommercial drivers in Benin city had knowledge of which an eye care provider is (60%), as well as knowing the eye care providers closest to them. However, 75% of them do not see it necessary to utilize the eye care services. Results of this study will help eye care professionals to better advise commercial drivers, concerning their eye health.Conclusion: Findingsrevealed that commercial drivers had a good knowledge of whom eye care providers are but a poor level of utilization of eye care services that they provide (P< 0.05). The factors affecting the poor utilization of eye care services was not statistically significant.

Refractive errors among commercial drivers

Purpose: To determine the pattern of refractive error among commercial drivers in north India. Methods: Descriptive study with convenient sampling conducted among commercial drivers of north India. Results: A total of 213 (75.8%) heavy?vehicle and 68 (24.2%) light?vehicle drivers were screened for eye diseases. Refractive error for distance was reported in 44 (15.7%; 95% CI: 11.6–20.4) drivers. Hyperopia was reported in 23 (8.2%; 95% CI: 5.2–12) drivers, followed by myopia in 15 (5.3%; 95% CI: 3–8.6) drivers and astigmatism in six (2.1%; 95% CI: 0.7–4.5) drivers. Presbyopia was reported in 157 (55.8%) drivers. Dry eye was reported in 70 (24.9%), stereo deficiency in 77 (27.4%), and color vision deficiency in 11 (3.9%) drivers. Three drivers were diagnosed with cataract, and two were referred for retina evaluation. Conclusion: Hyperopia in both eyes was the most common refractive error. Dry eye disease and color vision deficiency were also reported. Most of the drivers were not using spectacles for refractive error correction. Due to their mobile nature, drivers with cataract and retina diseases did not turn up for follow?up.

Surveying the Impact of Work Hours and Schedules on Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Sleep

BACKGROUND: Given the long hours on the road involving multiple and interacting work stressors (i.e., delivery pressures, irregular shifts, ergonomic hazards), commercial drivers face a plethora of health and safety risks. Researchers goal was to determine whether and to what extent long-haul trucker work schedules influence sleep duration and quality. METHODS: Survey and biometric data collected from male long-haul truck drivers at a major truckstop in central North Carolina over a six month period. RESULTS: Daily hours worked (mean = 11 hours, 55 minutes) and frequency of working over government-mandated daily HOS regulations (23.8% "frequently or always") were statistically significant predictors of sleep duration. Miles driven per week (mean = 2,812.61), irregular daily hours worked (63.8%), and frequency of working over the daily hour limit (23.8% "frequently or always") were statistically significant predictors of sleep quality. CONCLUSION: Implications of findings suggest a comprehensive review of the regulations and operational conditions for commercial motor vehicle drivers be undertaken.

Commercial Drivers’ Participation in the Use of Family Planning Services in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria.

Aims: To determine the participation of male commercial drivers in the choice and use of family planning methods and possible implications for reproductive health policy formulation. Study Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria. Methodology: A cross-sectional study of 402 adult drivers was done. Participants were selected by balloting from the drivers register and all consenting drivers were interviewed by trained research assistants. Results: Mean age of respondents was 44.5±9.9 years. Slightly more than half (53.0%) of participants were currently using a family planning method. The condom (58.2%) was the most popular family planning method followed by injection (32.9%) and withdrawal (22.1%). Only 43 (10.7%) and 36 (9.0%) of study’s participants have ever visited a family planning clinic for information or ever accompanied their spouses to a family planning clinic respectively. The commonest sources of information about family planning were the mass media (67.2%), health workers (21.1%) and friends (5.2%). Age (P<0.001) and knowledge (P=0.001) of family planning were found to be significantly associated with previous and current use of family planning. Respondents aged 40 years and above were about two times more likely to have good knowledge of family planning compared with younger respondents (OR=1.89; 95% CI=1.17–3.05). Similarly, respondents with good knowledge of family planning were about two times more likely to use a family planning method compared with those with poor knowledge (OR=2.35; 95% CI=2.257.20). Conclusion: Commercial drivers’ participation in the choice and use of family planning was poor. The policy implication of these findings is the need for programmes targeted at men and designed to further improve their knowledge and attitude about family planning. This will motivate the men and by extension their wives in order to achieve better planned families.