Prevalence of depression and its related factors among truck drivers in Yazd Province -2008

Abstract

Background and aims Driving is a dangerous and difficult job. In proportion to the other occupational groups, driving has a higher rate of mortality, morbidity and absent due to illness. Drivers are susceptible to depression. Depression alters the thought, attitude and operational skills and leads to higher rates of accident. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression and its related factors among truck drivers. Methods This was a cross-sectional study that carried out on 400 male truck drivers in Yazd province. Subjects were selected by simple random sampling method from Transport Organization List of truck drivers who live in Yazd province. Presence and severity of depression were assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory Short Form. Data were collected by interview and analyzed with SPSS software. Results Most of drivers(70.3%) had some degrees of depression: major depression was obsereved in 14.8%, moderate depression in 25.4% and mild depression in 30.1%. Only 29.7% of drivers had no depression symptoms. Pearson correlation showed a significant positive relatioship between depression score and the number of cigarettes smoking daily and also the distance of trip.Moreover, negative correlation was found between depression score and the sleep duration in trip. Depression score in drivers who had experienced accident during previous year was significantly higher than those with no accident experience. Conclusion our results regarding depression among truck drivers indicate necessity for establishing special committees in order to consulting and guidence of truck drivers as well as further assessing of their problems and finding solutions to help them having a better compatibility with their jobs situations.

Keywords

• depression
• truck driver
• Yazd.