Traffic and Health among Commuters in Urban Bengaluru, Karnataka, India - An Exploratory Study
Abstract
Background: Vehicular emissions degrade the ambient air quality posing a major public health problem in cities across the world. Being stuck in traffic for long hours has been attributed with increased incidence of road rage, back pain, cramps, anxiety and depression.
Objectives: To find out the magnitude of health problems among daily commuters in traffic; To assess the effects of traffic on health of daily commuters.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional exploratory study was done in urban Bengaluru in the first half of 2018. The sample size was 506. The subjects should have been a resident of Bengaluru for a minimum period of one year, should have commuted with either one or more than one mode of transport within the city on a daily basis.
Results: Out of a total of 506 study subjects, 253 (50.0%) were males and 253 (50.0%) were females. The median (IQR) age of the subjects was 21 (20, 23) and age range was between 16-60 years. The overall burden of one or more than one health problems observed due to traffic was 376 (74.3%). The health problems attributed to traffic was 289 (57.11%) subjects complained of body pain, 205 (40.5%) mentioned physical exhaustion/ dehydration, 144 (28.5%) allergies and 159 (31.4%) respiratory problems.
Conclusion: One or more than one health problems was observed in more three forth of the subject due to commute in traffic. Body pain and physical exhaustion/ dehydration were the commonest health problems observed.
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