Vision among bodaboda motorcycle riders in Kisumu
Abstract
Title: Vision among bodaboda motorcycle riders in Kisumu
Objectives
To determine the proportion of bodaboda motorcycle drivers with inadequate vision for
riding and its association with road traffic accidents in Kisumu.
Method
This was a cross section study conducted on bodaboda motorcycle riders in Kisumu. All
the participants had visual acuity assessment using LogMAR visual chart, colour vision
using Ishihara colour plates, stereopsis using Titmus fly test and visual field assessment
by confrontation. History regarding the number of major and minor accidents the rider
had been involved was be documented. Riders found to have inadequate vision or eye
diseases were referred to New Nyanza Provincial General Hospital for treatment. Data
was entered into a questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 17.0. A significance
level 95% was used.
Results
A total number of 186 bodaboda motorcycle riders were evaluated. Eleven riders of
which two had single eyes refused to consent to participate. All were male and with a
mean age of 31.3 years. Five (2.7%) of bodaboda motorcyclist riders had their vision
assessed prior to licensing. Most bodaboda riders had eye complaints (58.1%) and the
commonest complaints were tearing (17.2%), poor vision (9.7%), photophobia (8.1%)
and itching (8.1%). Five (2.7%) bodaboda motorcycle riders had inadequate visual
acuity for riding. Four (2.2%) bodaboda riders had red green colour deficiency. The
proportion of bodaboda motorcyclists with poor or no stereopsis was 4.3% and those
with constricted confrontational visual fields were 2.7%. Majority (56%) of the
bodaboda motorcycle riders had been involved in minor accidents. There is no
association between visual acuity, colour vision, confrontational visual fields and rate of road traffic accidents involving motorcycles in this study.
Conclusion
Majority of the bodaboda riders were young adults and met the visual requirements for
riding. There was no statistical significance between vision and rate of accidents in this
study. This is likely due to low number of participants and particularly by riders with
eye diseases. Majority of the bodaboda riders had eye complaints and have never had an
eye evaluation. Visual assessment prior to licensing needs to be increased, a larger study
assessing vision and ocular morbidity in bodaboda riders is recommended.
Citation
Master Of Medicine In Ophthalmology, University Of Nairobi, 2012Publisher
University of Nairobi