Prevalence of Respiratory Morbidity among Traffic Police in Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

OBJECTIVES The purpose of the study was to assess respiratory morbidity among traffic police in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan. METHODOLOGY A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Peshawar among traffic police from all their traffic stations. A sample of 302 participants was taken conveniently from the stations as a cluster sample for the purpose. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire and was analyzed through SPSS Version-17 for its presentation. RESULTS A total of 302 participants participated in the study. The mean age of the study population was 40.45 ± 6.30 years. Almost half (49%) of the study participants belonged to the age group 35-44 years. Results further reflected that majority of the respondents (90%) were head constables and 10% (31) of them were from the grade of Assistant, Sub Inspectors, (SI) and Sub Inspectors (SI). Around 49.7% of the study participants had graduation and above and the remaining 50.3% (152) had a higher secondary qualification. Furthermore; 87 % of the participants reported that they had never used a face mask and 13 % of them had used a face mask. Respiratory morbidity reflected that the 7% of participants had a frequent cough, chronic cough (6%), phlegm (15%), chronic phlegm (12%), wheeze (4%), chronic wheeze (18%), dyspnea I (9%), while 25% of them had dyspnea II and peak flow restriction with. CONCLUSION Findings of the study concluded that the Police working in traffic are very prone to get respiratory illnesses and they have a significantly higher prevalence of respiratory morbidity. Therefore periodic monitoring is encouraged to detect the problems at early stages for their treatment and better prognosis. Further Personal protective equipment needs to be used for the better prevention of the spread of respiratory disease