Title: Health Status of Traffic Police Personnel: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Dr Veerabhadra Radhakrishna, Dr Yeshwanth Rajagopal, Dr Sunilkumar S.R., Dr Sarfaraz Khazi, Dr Vineet Vishwakarma, Dr Alamelu Haran
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v4i12.125
Abstract
Background: Traffic policemen are one of the most vulnerable groups to various illnesses as they are exposed to dust, noise, fumes, ultra-violet radiation during their work.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on the 36-Whitefield traffic police personnel. The study group classified into two sub groups ‘A’ and ‘B’ depending on the duration of exposure less than or equal to 5-years and more than 5-years respectively.
Results: Health ailments detected were Eye irritation (14 persons- 38.9%), Chronic Cough (8 persons- 22.2%), Wheeze (4 persons- 11.1%), Dermatitis (6 persons- 16.7%), Anxiety (4 persons- 11.1%), Varicose veins (4 persons- 11.1%) and Fatigue (4 persons- 11.1%). 8 (22.2%) had chest expansion less than 4cm and 21 persons (58.3%) had reduced PEFR less than 500L/min. 16 (44.4%) personnel belonged to group A (occupational exposure ≤5 years) while 20 (55.6%) belonged to group B (occupational exposure >5 years). The group B had a higher prevalence of all the health ailments. Only 11 policemen were using any personal protection measures.
Conclusion: Traffic police showed a high prevalence of various health ailments due to occupational exposure which increases with the duration of exposure. The study was used to increase group's awareness towards preventive measures.
References
1. Physical Environment: Place of work or occupation (Occupational Health). In: Rabindra Nath Roy, Indranil Saha, MC Gupta and BK Mahajan. Mahajan & Gupta Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine. 4th edition. New Delhi. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd. 2013; p. 83-98.
2. DM Satapathy, TR Behera and RM Tripathy. Health status of traffic police personnel in Brahmpur city. Indian Journal of community medicine. 2009; 34(1): 71-72.
3. M. Madhusudanan. Presentation on policies, monitoring, data acquisition and air quality status in Bengaluru. Central Pollution Control Board. Ministry of Environment & Forests (Govt. of India). https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=9&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjxvpSWwsDOAhWCGpQKHVRaDmUQFghQMAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcistup.iisc.ac.in%2Fpdf%2Fairquality%2FMadhusudhan.pdf&usg=AFQjCNGLifEs4tngYmn8uyo9fKQCUQtdOQ&sig2=7UNKMFTQBkO_Tek5z36FJA.
4. Mark Russi. Occupational Medicine. In: David L. Katz, Joann G. Elmore, Dorthea M.G. Wild and Sean C. Lucan. Jekel’s Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Preventive Medicine, and Public Health. 4th edition. Philadelphia. Elsevier. 2014; p. 264-271.
5. Neide Regina Simoes Olmo, Paulo Hilario do Nascimento Saldiva, Alfesio Luıs Ferreira Braga, Chin An Lin, Ubiratan de Paula Santos and Luiz Alberto Amador Pereira. A review of low-level air pollution and adverse effects on human health: implications for epidemiological studies and public policy. Clinics 2011; 66(4): 681-690.
6. Kanchana.V.S, Vijayalakshmi.R and Sudha.M. Job satisfaction and work stress of traffic police – A study in Salem city, Tamilnadu. Asia Pacific Journal of Research in Business Management. 2012; 3(2):71-93.