Profile, risk factors and perception of Covid-19 among truck drivers of the Health on the Road program in the State of Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant global impact since it emerged in Wuhan, China, in 2019. Among the risk groups, truck drivers were highlighted due to their professional characteristics and working conditions. This study aimed to describe the profile and identify risk factors related to Covid-19 among truck drivers participating in the Health on the Road program in the state of Paraná, Brazil, in addition to analyzing the perception of these professionals about the pandemic. A total of 840 truck drivers were included in the study, most of them male and residing in the Paraná state. It was found that 28% of the participants had comorbidities, with systemic arterial hypertension being the most prevalent disease. During the interview, flu-like symptoms were reported by a small percentage of participants. The analysis showed a significant association between the presence of comorbidities and the manifestation of symptoms. Sleep quality was adequate in most cases. As for preventive measures, most truck drivers adopted the recommended measures, including the use of a mask when mandatory and hand hygiene. The perception of the pandemic was positive, with 83% of participants considering themselves well-informed about Covid-19. The need to develop specific prevention and intervention strategies aimed at truck drivers is highlighted, considering the particularities of their profession, in order to protect their health and control the spread of diseases.