General health status and morbidity pattern of bus drivers in West Bengal
Keywords:
Bus drivers, health status, occupational stress, Morbidity patternAbstract
Bus driving is a paradigm of highly strenuous occupation, with high risks of physical and mental ill-health. The drivers must respond to various unforeseen demands over which they have petite control. In driving time they are exposed to different types of hazards but there is dearth of data. This study was aimed at evaluating the general health status of the bus drivers, their demographic profile and morbidity pattern. Bus drivers (n= 254) were randomly taken from different bus depot and divided into two groups according to years of experience. Different type of physical, physiological and biochemical parameters were measured. Detailed job profile of bus drivers was also analyzed with the help of questionnaire. Jaundice, skin diseases, malaria were most prevalent among the two groups of bus drivers due to unhealthy and unhygienic environmental condition at workplaces. It was also observed that most of the bus drivers of two groups had one or multiple addictions and they take it in regular basis. They were compelled to work in different types of strenuous work, which may negatively affect their work capacity along with their physiological and psychological behavior also.
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