PREVELANCE OF MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN IN LONG DISTANCE TAXI DRIVERS

A study done by Dr Akinpelu, A. O., Oyewole, O. O., Odole, A. C., & Olukoya, R. O. African Journal of Biomedical Research, 14(2), 89-94. (2011) on prevalence of Musculoskeletal Pain and Health seeking Behaviour among Occupational drivers in Ibadan, Nigeria.

  Data on Musculoskeletal Pain experience, perception and health seeking behaviour was collected through interview using the structured and Standardized Nordic questionnaires for analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms and health seeking behaviour. 

Data was analyzed using Mann Whitney U and Chi square tests. Majority (89.3%) of the participants reported experience of musculoskeletal pain in at least one part of the body during 12 months prior to the study. 

The most commonly reported site of pain was low back and it was reported by 64.8% of other common sites include the shoulder (30.8%), the knee (27.0%) and the neck (17.0%). The least reported site of pain was the upper back (2.6%).

A study on Occupational and personal determinants of musculoskeletal disorders among urban taxi drivers in Ghana was conducted by  Abledu, J. K., Offei, E. B., & Abledu, G. K. (2014).  International scholarly research notices, 2014.

This study estimated the prevalence, body distribution, and occupational and personal determinants of MSDs in a sample of taxi drivers in the Accra Metropolis of Ghana.A total of 210 participants were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. 

All the participants were evaluated by using a semistructured questionnaire and the Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Disorder Questionnaire.

The estimated prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders ( MSDs ) was 70.5%.The prevalence of the various MSD domains was as follows: lower back pain (34.3%), upper back pain (16.7%), neck pain (15.2%), shoulder pain (11.0%), knee pain (10.0%), hip/thigh pain (2.9%), elbow pain (4.8%), ankle/feet pain (2.4%), and wrist/hand pain (1.9%).

Multiple logistic regression analysis of the data showed that participants who were employee drivers, drove taxi more than 12 hours per day or at least 5 days per week, perceived their job as stressful, and were dissa,tisfied with their job were at a greater risk of developing MSDs.