Prevalence of visual impairment among commercial motor vehicle drivers in Uyo, South-South Nigeria

Abstract

Emem Godwin Abraham, Ivy Nneka Umanah

Background: Road transport system is the most patronized system of transport in Nigeria. Most people do not own personal vehicles and so rely solely on commercial motor vehicles for movement from one place to another Aims and Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of visual impairment amongst commercial motor vehicle drivers in Uyo metropolis. Method: This was a cross sectional survey of 291 commercial motor vehicle drivers carried out in Uyo metropolis between June and July 2006. Anterior and posterior segment examinations were done using appropriate available instruments. Data so obtained was analyzed and the result represented as simple frequency tables and p<0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Result: Mean age of drivers studied was 41.5years ±11.1 years. Prevalence of visual impairment was 5 (1.7%) in the better eye and 21(7.2%) in the worse eye and 6 (2.1%) were monocularly blind. The common causes of visual impairment includedcataract, refractive error, and glaucoma. There was a statistically significant association between visual field defect and road traffic accident (P=0.037) while there was no statistically significant association between road traffic accident and visual impairment (P=0.622). Conclusion: The prevalence of visual impairment among commercial drivers in Uyo was 1.7% in the better eye and 7.2% in the worse eye and this is statistically significant. We recommend that routine medical and visual reports should bea mandatory requirement before issuance or renewal of license to commercial drivers in Nigeria