Main Article Content
Air Quality Perception and Assessment of Respiratory Conditions experienced by Traffic Wardens in Two Local Government Areas in South- Western Nigeria
Abstract
Traffic related emissions contribute immensely to ambient air pollution in urban areas. Studies have shown that a significant proportion of the population are occupationally exposed to air pollutants and among these urban dwellers, traffic wardens have been reported to be at a higher risk of respiratory impairment. Although, various studies have been carried out on the assessment of the respiratory conditions of traffic wardens in developed countries, such studies are lacking in this part of the globe. We assessed the respiratory conditions experienced by Traffic wardens in two selected Local Government Areas in Ibadan. A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out involving 122 Traffic wardens and 125 regular Policemen. Ibadan North and Northeast Local Government Areas were purposely selected based on their high traffic density while information on their Socio-demographic characteristics, occupational history, perception of air quality and the respiratory problems they experienced were obtained using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were
analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square statistic at 5% level of significance. The mean age of traffic wardens and regular policemen were 37.7 ± 9.3 years and 37.0 ± 7.7 years respectively. Majority of the traffic wardens (84%) had a positive perception of air quality while 31.1% had a negative perception. On the other hand, a higher proportion of the regular policemen had a positive perception while only 22.4% had a negative perception. Majority (99.2%) of traffic wardens do not use personal protective device while on duty. Among the Traffic wardens, 59 (48.4%) had cough, 81 (66.4%) had breathing difficulty, 88 (72.1%) suffered from chest pains while 74 (60.7%) and 84 (68.9) suffered from catarrh and sore throat respectively. On the other hand, the proportion of Regular policemen that suffered from cough, breathing difficulty, chest pains, sore throat and catarrh were 22 (7.6%), 8 (6.4%), (5.6%), 18 (14.4%) and 52 (41.7%) respectively. Traffic wardens are highly vulnerable to respiratory impairment due their exposure to vehicular exhaust. There is need to introduce and enforce safety measures such as the wearing of nose masks and an increase in the number of shifts at work to ameliorate the problem.
Key Words: Respiratory conditions, Traffic wardens, Urban communities, Regular policemen, Ibadan.
analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square statistic at 5% level of significance. The mean age of traffic wardens and regular policemen were 37.7 ± 9.3 years and 37.0 ± 7.7 years respectively. Majority of the traffic wardens (84%) had a positive perception of air quality while 31.1% had a negative perception. On the other hand, a higher proportion of the regular policemen had a positive perception while only 22.4% had a negative perception. Majority (99.2%) of traffic wardens do not use personal protective device while on duty. Among the Traffic wardens, 59 (48.4%) had cough, 81 (66.4%) had breathing difficulty, 88 (72.1%) suffered from chest pains while 74 (60.7%) and 84 (68.9) suffered from catarrh and sore throat respectively. On the other hand, the proportion of Regular policemen that suffered from cough, breathing difficulty, chest pains, sore throat and catarrh were 22 (7.6%), 8 (6.4%), (5.6%), 18 (14.4%) and 52 (41.7%) respectively. Traffic wardens are highly vulnerable to respiratory impairment due their exposure to vehicular exhaust. There is need to introduce and enforce safety measures such as the wearing of nose masks and an increase in the number of shifts at work to ameliorate the problem.
Key Words: Respiratory conditions, Traffic wardens, Urban communities, Regular policemen, Ibadan.
