A Study on the Prevalence of Hypertension and its Risk Factors among Auto-rickshaw drivers of selected areas of Nellore city, Andhra Pradesh.

Abstract

Back ground: In India auto-rickshaws are main mode of transport in urban and semi-urban areas. Drivers are exposed to harmful environment such as pollutant gases, continuous noise and whole body vibration as well as harmful lifestyle such as irregularity of intake of meals, bad posture while driving and stressful occupational pressures due to their working conditions. Objectives: To study the prevalence of hypertension among auto-rickshaw drivers at Nellore city. To study the association of the risk factors with hypertension among auto-rickshaw drivers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done for a period of two months on 135 auto-rickshaw drivers at the auto-rickshaw stand near Narayana Medical College, Nellore (D), Andhra Pradesh.  Data was collected using pre-designed, pre-tested, semi structured questionnaire. Statistical Analysis: Data collected is entered in MS Excel, and appropriate statistical analysis is done using SPSS Version 23. Results: Prevalence of hypertension among the auto-rickshaw drivers is 43%. Among the study subjects 40.7% were smokers; while 24% of the subjects were chewing tobacco and 52% were alcoholics. Conclusion: Prevalence of hypertension among auto-rickshaw was very high; they need regular health check-ups and appropriate treatment is recommended.