Abstract

Background: Motorcycle taxis have arisen as a key feature of rural and urban transport services. It is among occupation in which workers are highly exposed to ambient air pollutants and probably make them to be susceptible in developing respiratory diseases. Objective: To determine prevalence of respiratory symptoms and the associated factors among motorcycle taxi drivers in Ubungo municipality. Materials and methods: The study design was descriptive cross sectional study conducted from March to July 2018. Multistage sampling technique was used to obtain sample of 200 motorcycle taxi drivers and 100 office attendants. A modified British medical research council questionnaire and personal sampling pump (SKC Sidekick pump) were used for data collection. Data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Science software22versions. Results: motorcycle taxi drivers had personal exposure to geometric mean dust concentration 1.60 mg/m3 (SD=2.12) while office attendants had 0.071 mg/m3 (SD=1.26) for eight hours, which was less than TLV according to the ACGIH. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms were reported to be higher among motorcycle taxi drivers compared to office attendants for all symptoms and the differences were statistically significant at P-value <0.001, where morning cough (55.5% vs. 27%); cough last for three months yearly (26% vs 2%); phlegm (53.2% vs 15%), phlegm last for three months yearly (23% vs.0%) wheezing (29% vs 2%) and shortness of breath (47.7% vs. 16%). Work duration was the factor significantly associated with cough, cough last for three months, phlegm and shortness of breath among motorcycle taxi drivers. Conclusion: Prevalence of the respiratory health symptoms was higher among motorcycle taxi drivers thanthe control. Working as motorcycle taxi driver for four years and above is a risk factorfor developing respiratory health problems.

Keywords

motorcycle taxi drivers, respiratory symptoms, lung function, Tanzania