Health perception and relationship with work activities among truck drivers

Abstract

Truck drivers are exposed to harmful health situations, favoring the high prevalence of morbidity and mortality. We sought to know the perception of health and its relationship with working conditions among truckdrivers in the state of Sergipe, Brazil. Qualitative research, with semi-structured interviews of 15 truck drivers and script consisting of two main questions: the first evaluating their health assigning scores from 0 to 10 (0 as unhealthy and 10 totally healthy); and the second about his opinion about the relationship of his own state of health with the profession. In the content analysis, three categories emerged: self-perceived health, determinants of labor risk and health care. Self-perceived health obtained scores of 7.5±1,4, revealing a perception of health limited to the absence of disease, resigned to the vulnerability associated with strenuous work routine. The understanding of the relationship between health and work was associated with the determinants of occupational risk, although they perceived its inf luence on health, they were little stimulated in terms of self-care and pointed out as incompatible with work routines. Knowing the perception of truck drivers about their working conditions enables them to face the vulnerability of occupational health, making it possible to raise discussions about the need to reformulate and comply with labor policies in order to reduce occupational impacts.