Energy drink: the consumption prevalence, and awareness of its potential health implications among commercial drivers in the Ho Municipality of Ghana
Background: Consumption of energy drinks has become an escalating global public health problem. The work schedule and irregular sleeping habits of commercial bus drivers make them highly susceptible to getting fatigued, hence most of them consume energy drinks as a fatigue management strategy. However, consumption of energy drinks produces numerous psychomotor side effects that if consumed among drivers puts the traveling public in danger of road accidents. This study sought to assess the prevalence of energy drink consumption and awareness of associated potential health problems among commercial long-distance bus drivers operating from the Ho municipality.
Methods: The study population comprised about 266 commercial bus drivers. This was a cross-sectional study involving 132 participants who completed a structured questionnaire on the participants' socio-demographic characteristics, frequency of consumption and reasons for consumption. It also included questions to assess the knowledge of the ingredients and side effects of energy drinks. Respondents were selected using a convenience sampling technique. Descriptive analysis and Chi-square test of association were used to analyse the data.
Results: A majority (62.1%) of the drivers had more than 10 years of commercial driving experience. A 75% energy drink consumption prevalence was recorded with driving performance enhancement (78.8%) as the predominant reason for consumption. 7 - 10 bottles per week were consumed by most (32.2%) of the drivers. Also, 72.0% had poor knowledge of the side effects linked with energy drink consumption as well as the ingredients for preparation.
Conclusion: Energy drinks were consumed by the majority of the drivers at the Ho main bus terminal of which most of the drivers had poor knowledge of the potential health problems linked with the consumption of these drinks. The consumption of energy drinks was observed to be higher among the drivers with lower education levels, higher monthly income and those who worked long hours in a day. The Ghana National Road Safety Commission (GNRC) in collaboration with other private road transport unions in Ghana should organize regular seminars for commercial bus drivers on the potential dangers and effects associated with energy drink consumption.
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Energy drink: the consumption prevalence, and awareness of its potential health implications among commercial drivers in the Ho Municipality of Ghana
Posted 17 Aug, 2020
On 27 Aug, 2020
On 13 Aug, 2020
On 10 Aug, 2020
On 09 Aug, 2020
On 09 Aug, 2020
On 07 Aug, 2020
On 30 Jul, 2020
On 27 Jul, 2020
On 26 Jul, 2020
On 26 Jul, 2020
Posted 04 Aug, 2020
On 05 Aug, 2020
On 04 Aug, 2020
On 04 Aug, 2020
Received 07 Jul, 2020
On 07 Jul, 2020
On 16 Jun, 2020
On 02 Jun, 2020
Received 02 Jun, 2020
Invitations sent on 30 May, 2020
On 27 May, 2020
On 26 May, 2020
On 26 May, 2020
On 03 May, 2020
Received 02 May, 2020
Received 02 May, 2020
On 17 Apr, 2020
On 15 Apr, 2020
Received 07 Apr, 2020
On 28 Mar, 2020
On 20 Mar, 2020
Invitations sent on 20 Mar, 2020
On 19 Mar, 2020
On 19 Mar, 2020
Background: Consumption of energy drinks has become an escalating global public health problem. The work schedule and irregular sleeping habits of commercial bus drivers make them highly susceptible to getting fatigued, hence most of them consume energy drinks as a fatigue management strategy. However, consumption of energy drinks produces numerous psychomotor side effects that if consumed among drivers puts the traveling public in danger of road accidents. This study sought to assess the prevalence of energy drink consumption and awareness of associated potential health problems among commercial long-distance bus drivers operating from the Ho municipality.
Methods: The study population comprised about 266 commercial bus drivers. This was a cross-sectional study involving 132 participants who completed a structured questionnaire on the participants' socio-demographic characteristics, frequency of consumption and reasons for consumption. It also included questions to assess the knowledge of the ingredients and side effects of energy drinks. Respondents were selected using a convenience sampling technique. Descriptive analysis and Chi-square test of association were used to analyse the data.
Results: A majority (62.1%) of the drivers had more than 10 years of commercial driving experience. A 75% energy drink consumption prevalence was recorded with driving performance enhancement (78.8%) as the predominant reason for consumption. 7 - 10 bottles per week were consumed by most (32.2%) of the drivers. Also, 72.0% had poor knowledge of the side effects linked with energy drink consumption as well as the ingredients for preparation.
Conclusion: Energy drinks were consumed by the majority of the drivers at the Ho main bus terminal of which most of the drivers had poor knowledge of the potential health problems linked with the consumption of these drinks. The consumption of energy drinks was observed to be higher among the drivers with lower education levels, higher monthly income and those who worked long hours in a day. The Ghana National Road Safety Commission (GNRC) in collaboration with other private road transport unions in Ghana should organize regular seminars for commercial bus drivers on the potential dangers and effects associated with energy drink consumption.
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Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11