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Annals of African Medicine, Vol. 5, No. 4, 2006, pp. 166 –169 Awareness of Hazards and Use of GSM Mobile Phone among Non-Commercial Drivers in Ilorin, Nigeria 1 T. M. Akande and 2 M. S. Ajao 1Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, and 2Department
of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University
of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria Code Number: am06039 Abstract Background:Driver distractions have been suggested as a
contributor to traffic accidents. Results indicate that the accident risk can
increase when a driver is using the mobile telephone in a car. This study was
conducted to determine use of mobile phone by non-commercial drivers and their
awareness and attitude to the related risks. Key words: mobile phone, hazards, use, non-commercial drivers Résumé Introduction : On a déjè cité
des distractions qui font face aux chauffeurs comme responsable pour des
accidents de la circulation routière. Des résultats ont montré que le danger
des accidents pourrait augmenter quand un chauffeur utilise un radiotéléphone
dans une voiture. Cette étude a été effectuée afin de décider lutilisation du
radiotéléphone par des chauffeurs non-commercials et leur prise de conscience
et comportement par rapport aux dangers connexes. Mot-clés : Radiotéléphone, dangers, utilisation, des chauffeurs non-commercials Introduction Motor-vehicle accidents are one of the major causes of injury in most motorized countries. Driver distractions have been suggested as a contributor to traffic accidents. 1 Numerous governments have introduced regulations governing the use of mobile (cellular) telephones while driving. 2, 3 Studies have examined possible effects of concurrent mobile phone use on driving performance. Although interference is often apparent, determining the implications of such findings for 'real world' driving is problematic. 4 It was found that a mobile telephone task had a negative effect upon the drivers' choice reaction time; results indicate that the accident risk can increase when a driver is using the mobile telephone in a car. 5, 6 This study was conducted among non-commercial drivers to determine their use of mobile phone while driving. Materials and Methods The descriptive survey was conducted among non-commercial drivers who possess mobile phones in Ilorin, Nigeria in 2003. Ilorin is the administrative capital of Kwara State, Nigeria. GSM mobile phone was introduced into Nigeria in 2001 but its use in Ilorin began in 2003 when it had network coverage. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect information from 267 randomly selected drivers on their demographic characteristics, awareness and attitude towards hazards related to use of mobile phones while driving and also their use of mobile phone while driving. Simple random sampling was used in selecting respondents for the interview. Data collected from the questionnaire was entered and analyzed using the Epi-info version 6.04 software. Frequency tables and cross-tabulation was done and p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results Two hundred and sixty seven non-commercial drivers were interviewed, 168(62.9%) of them were males and 99(37.1%) were females. The mean age of respondents is 33.0 ± 10.97 yrs, most of them (88.0%) had tertiary education, 47.1% were married, 44.1% were single. 255(95.5%) possess mobile GSM phone. The mean duration of possession of mobile phone among the respondents is 11.6 ± 7.53 months. Over two-third (69.2%) possess mobile phone for at least 7 months before the interview. Most respondents 240 (90.6%) are aware that GSM use while driving increase risk of road traffic accident (RTA), 156 (59.8%) are aware it increase risk of brain tumor, and 62.7% were aware of it increasing risk of ear deafness (Table 1). Less than a third (27.5%) admits using mobile phone while driving (Table 2). A high proportion of respondents 205 (72.7%) are aware of devices that reduce hazards from mobile phones. Among them 196 (95.6%) were able to mention a device for reducing hazard. The most mentioned device is Hand-free device (53.1%), 66 (33.7%) were aware of rays protector and 17 (8.7%) mentioned casing. More than half of the respondents 148(58.0%) do not know about radiation protective device and 59(55.1%) of those who are aware of this device possess it. The most reported source of awareness of hazards of GSM is mass media, others include friends (25.0%), journals (19.6%) and none mentioned manufacturers instructions. Respondents who consider themselves prone to the hazards of GSM phones were 74(27.7%), about a third (32.6%) dont consider their self prone and 106(39.7%) were not sure. The hazards respondents felt they are prone to are; deafness (28.6%), brain tumors (22.9%), radiation (21.4%) and road accidents (17.1%). One hundred and forty (59.6%) felt they can do something to reduce the hazard and 96(40.7%) think they can not do anything to reduce the hazard. More than half of the respondents 152(59.1%) had ever switched off their mobile phone while driving. Among them only 28(18.5%) always switch off their phones, 23.2% switch off frequently and 43(28.5%) switch off occasionally. Of the 242 who possess mobile phones 130 (53.7%) possess hand free cord and only 113(44.1%) ever used hand free cord and only 92(37.7%) use hand free cord while driving. Table 1: Awareness of hazards related to use of mobile phones
RTA: Road
traffic accident Significantly higher proportion of respondents aged at least 30 years use GSM phone while driving (p < 0.05). Significantly higher proportion of respondents who are not aware of hazard of RTA related to use of GSM phones use mobile phones while driving (Table 3). Significantly higher proportion of males than females use GSM phones while driving (p < 0.05). But no significant sex difference among those who put off their phones while driving or use hand free cord while driving (p > 0.05) (Table 4). Table 2: Use of mobile phone while driving
Figures in parenthesis are percentages Table 3: Influence of Age and awareness on use of mobile phone use while driving
RTA: Road traffic accident Table 4: Influence of sex on use of mobile phone while driving
Discussion Awareness of the respondents on hazards related to use of mobile phone was high, even though awareness on hazard related to road accidents was the highest; there was also fairly good awareness on hazards related to radiation and deafness. While more than half were aware of hand-free-device less than half were aware of radiation protective devices. The source of information on these hazards included the mass media, friends and journals but none got information on hazards of mobile phone use from manufacturers instructions. It is very important for manufacturers of such widely used electronic device to provide information on potential hazards to its users so that they can take appropriate steps to prevent these hazards. In light of the rapidly increasing development of the cell phone market, the use of such equipment while driving raises the question of whether it is associated with an increased accident risk. 6 Several studies have shown increased risk of accident with use of mobile phones while driving as it has been shown to increase reaction time while driving. 7-10 The relative risk of all accidents and of accidents with injuries is higher for users of cell phones than for non-users. 6 About a quarter of respondents in this study admit using mobile phones while driving. This is far higher than findings of in Melbourne, Australia and 3.3% in city of Lleida, Spain. 11, 12 which were from observational studies. Observational studies in this area may however give a more accurate prevalence of mobile phone use while driving. More men than women in this study use mobile phones while driving similar to findings by Taylor et al and Astrain et al. 11,12 Unlike the findings of White et al that nearly half of all drivers in the sample with a mobile phone reported having used it while driving in this study the proportion of users is lower. The probability of having an accident was perceived to be less for self than for others was found in this study similar to previous studies indicating an optimistic bias. 1, 13 Less than 20.0% of the respondents said they always switch off their phones while driving and 37.7% use hand free-cord while driving. The risk of accidents resulting from distractions from cell phones is therefore high among these drivers. The use of cellular telephones in motor vehicles is associated with a quadrupling of the risk of a collision during the brief time interval involving a call. Decisions about regulation of such telephones, however, need to take into account the benefits of the technology and the role of individual responsibility. 14 There is thus an urgent need to make users aware of the danger. There should be enforced legislation to avoid use of mobile phones while driving. References
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