Morbidity profile and use of personal protective equipment amongst traffic police of Mumbai

ABSTRACT

Background: Traffic police play a very significant role in controlling traffic system. The job of traffic police personnel is a tough job, which has a direct influence on their life. The aim of the present study was to assess prevalence of morbidities, use of personal protective equipment viz., mask, oxygen therapy and pressure stocking amongst Mumbai traffic police and study association of some job related factors with their present health profile.Methods: Record based study was conducted by analyzing 1959 health record forms filled by the traffic police of Mumbai. Frequency, percentages, Chi-square test and unpaired t test were calculated.Results: The mean age of traffic police was 46.87±7.95 years. The duration of years in traffic branch ranged from 6 months to 18 years. Prevalence of stress, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, eye, skin, and ear morbidities were 26%, 20.9%, 14.2%, 10.2%, 3.6%, 3.3% respectively. In traffic police officers, prevalence of hypertension (28.3% v/s 19.8%), diabetes mellitus (23.6% v/s 12.8%), ear morbidities (5.5% v/s 2.9%) and stress (31.1% v/s 25.3%) were significantly high as compared to traffic policemen (p value <0.05). There was significant association of prevalence of respiratory morbidities, ear morbidities with current work placement (p value <0.05). There was significant relation of duration in police service and stress, eye morbidities, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and respiratory morbidities. Proportion of traffic police using mask, oxygen therapy and pressure stockings were 60.2%, 21.5% and 15.8% respectively.Conclusions: Morbidities amongst traffic police is high. Use of personal protective equipment is very low. Worksite Prevention Program should be planned to reduce health problems amongst traffic police.