Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among taxi drivers in Yaoundé, Cameroon: Preventive effect of physical activity

Background: Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are very common conditions in the workplace. Among professional drivers, there would be an increased risk of developing these affections. Identifying the associated factors would help to better devise effective prevention strategies. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of MSDs among taxi drivers in the city of Yaoundé and to study the associated factors, mainly the physical activity level. Methods: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study of 151 adult male taxi drivers. Sociodemographic, anthropometric and work-related data were collected. MSDs over the past 12 months were assessed using the Nordic Questionnaire and physical activity level was determined by the WHO Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: The overall prevalence of MSDs was 86.8%; the most affected areas were mainly the lower back (72.8%), the nape of the neck and the neck (42.4%), and the knees (29.1%). Job tenure greater than 12 years was associated with MSDs (OR = 2.5, P = 0.059). Age over 39 (OR = 2) and obesity (OR = 2.04) increased the risk of MSDs in our study population, but these associations were not significant. Most taxi drivers (62.9%) had a low physical activity level and no association was found between the physical activity level and MSDs. Furthermore, we did not find any other significantly associated factors among the variables studied. Conclusions: MSDs are common ailments among taxi drivers in Cameroon. It is therefore necessary to better identify its associated factors in order to devise good prevention strategies.