The results suggest that the higher percentages of Beninese women affected by back pain and by severe back pain is related to the longer hours worked and more strenuous physical work performed.
Background: In African cities, chronic exposure to pollutants is the most common public health problem faced daily by motorcycle taxi drivers. In Benin, studies conducted on motorcycle drivers, have shown the presence of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter in ambient air, which may affect lung function. Aims: This study aims to diagnose potential respiratory problems among 48 motorcycle taxi drivers (47.02 ± 8.75 years) compared to a control group made up of 52 people (46.38 ± 8.81 years) in Porto-Novo, Benin. Methods: A questionnaire, two exploration pulmonary function tests and two 6-minute walk tests were used to identify symptoms and changes in respiratory variables that reveal the existence of bronchospasm. Results: The frequency of respiratory symptoms noted among motorcycle taxi drivers is higher than that recorded among members of the control group. We observed that motorcycle drivers at rest and after physical effort have significantly lower respiratory variables (FVC, FEV1, PEF, FEF 25-75 , FEF 50 and FEF 25) (p < 0.05) than those recoded in control group. Conclusion: It can therefore be concluded that, because of the relatively long duration of exposure among motorcycle taxi drivers, the inhalation of automobile pollutants, may cause respiratory problems in this population.
Results will make a first contribution to the literature by identifying the stressful postures adopted during a typical day. The findings of this study can help in the development of preventative concepts and postural modification techniques to decrease the occurrence of back pain during pregnancy for women in Benin.
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