Daniela Wosiack da Silva

Perfil do trabalho e acidentes de trânsito entre motociclistas de entregas em dois municípios de médio porte do Estado do Paraná, Brasil

This cross-sectional study focused on motorcycle couriers (work profile, work conditions, and traffic accidents) in Londrina and Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil. Data were collected from self-completed questionnaires in 2005-2006. In Londrina and Maringá, respectively, 377 and 500 motorcycle couriers completed the questionnaire, with mean ages of 28 and 29 years. Londrina showed a higher proportion of couriers that earned per delivery, worked both day and night or on night shifts only, and who worked more than 10 hours a day (p < 0.05). Despite greater exposure to hazardous work and traffic conditions in Londrina, there was no significant difference in the accident rates during the 12 months prior to the survey in Londrina and Maringá (2.89 and 2.80 per 100 person-months, respectively). The study detected precarious work conditions, high exposure to hazardous traffic conditions, and high accident rates among motorcycle couriers.

Condições de trabalho e riscos no trânsito urbano na ótica de trabalhadores motociclistas

Uma das profissoes que mais se expandem no Brasil e a dos motociclistas profissionais, o que pode aumentar os acidentes de trânsito envolvendo esta categoria. Este estudo tem como objetivo identificar e analisar qualitativamente a percepcao de motoboys acerca de aspectos relacionados ao seu trabalho, aos riscos no trânsito e a ocorrencia de acidentes. Os dados foram coletados por meio de grupo focal, realizado em fevereiro de 2005, com 11 motoboys atuantes em Londrina (PR). Este artigo focaliza os principais motivos que levaram os motoboys a insercao na profissao, suas condicoes de trabalho, os riscos a que estao expostos e seu envolvimento em acidentes de trânsito. Os principais motivos para a insercao na profissao foram o desemprego e a baixa escolaridade. A pressao exercida pelas empresas e clientes por entregas rapidas e fator determinante para a adocao de comportamento de risco no trânsito, tendo o ganho por produtividade menor peso na tomada de decisoes. Todos os participantes do estudo relataram envolvimento em acidentes de trânsito. Melhorar suas condicoes de trabalho e o grande desafio colocado no momento, tanto para os proprios motoboys, por meio da uniao da categoria e luta por seus direitos, como para a sociedade em geral, cabendo ao Estado fiscalizar as empresas que oferecem servicos de entrega e estabelecer normas que aumentem a seguranca desses motociclistas no desempenho do seu trabalho.

Motorcycle couriers: characteristics of traffic accidents in southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE This study aimed at understanding characteristics of traffic accidents with motorcycle couriers in the cities of Londrina and Maringá, in the State of Paraná (Brazil). METHODS A total of 327 couriers who reported, in 2005/2006, motorcycle accident in the previous 12 months took part in the study (147 in Londrina and 180 in Maringá). RESULTS Of all the interviewed, 39.6% reported more than one traffic accident. The accidents were perceived as serious by 21.4% of them and 56.3% reported knowing a convalescing courier due to a traffic accident. Most injuries (82.9%) occurred during work hours. Significant differences were observed between the cities concerning climatic conditions (p=0.013), time of the day (p=0.002), pre-hospital care (p=0.032) and hospital admission (p<0.001). CONCLUSION The high incidence and the recurrence of traffic accidents highlight the susceptibility of motorcycle couriers to these events and the need for strategies and specific prevention policies.

Cobertura e fatores associados com a realização do exame Papanicolaou em município do Sul do Brasil

Purpose: to verify the coverage and factors associated with Papanicolaou (Pap) testing in Londrina (PR), Brazil. Methods: this is a cross-sectional study, carried out in 2004, in microareas of five Basic Health Units (BHU) of Londrina. One or two microareas from each BHU were selected and a list of all women aged 20-59 years resident in these places, was made through search in the Basic Attention Information System, the women being then visited and interviewed. Those with a Pap test in the last three years were considered as having an updated examination, and the remaining as delayed. The association of some factors with the examination situation was investigated. Data analysis was performed using Epi-Info 6.04d. Results: Pap smear coverage among the 513 participants of the study was 80.7%, ranging from 71.5% to 88.4%. Delay in taking the test was higher (p<0.05) among women who worked only at home (22.4% as compared with 14.3% among those who worked outside), and among those who belonged to D/E social classes (24.9%) as compared to C (17.5%) and A/B (8.3%) classes. The proportion who ignored the next test date was higher (p<0.01) among those who had the last Papanicolaou testing at a BHU (14.7%), as compared to those who had been attended privately or by a health insurance company (5.8%). Conclusion: the coverage of Pap smear in the studied areas can be considered satisfactory, although there is a need of improving compliance with Pap test, mainly among women who are the poorest and who work only at home.

Factors Associated with Road Accidents among Brazilian Motorcycle Couriers

The objective of the study was to identify factors associated with reports of road accidents, among motorcycle couriers in two medium-sized municipalities in southern Brazil. A self-administered questionnaire was answered by motorcycle couriers that had worked for at least 12 months in this profession. The outcomes analyzed were reports on accidents and serious accidents over the 12 months prior to the survey. Bivariate and multivariate analyses by means of logistic regression were carried out to investigate factors that were independently associated with the outcomes. Seven hundred and fifty motorcycle couriers, of mean age 29.5 years (standard deviation = 8.1 ), were included in the study. Young age (18 to 24 years compared to ≥25 years, odds ratio [OR] = 1.77) speeding (OR = 1.48), and use of cell phones while driving (OR = 1.43) were factors independently associated with reports of accidents. For serious accidents, there was an association with alternation of work shifts (OR = 1.91) and speeding (OR = 1.67). The characteristics associated with accidents—personal (young age), behavioral (use of cell phones while driving and speeding), and professional (speeding and alternation of work shifts)—reveal the need to adopt wide-ranging strategies to reduce these accidents, including better work conditions for these motorcyclists.

Atuação profissional de motoboys e fatores associados à ocorrência de acidentes de trânsito em Londrina-PR

Nos ultimos anos, no Brasil, tem sido observado o uso crescente dos servicos de entrega de mercadorias por motoboys, caracterizada pela rapidez e agilidade na entrega de produtos. A presenca e a tendencia de crescimento do numero desses trabalhadores parecem irreversiveis, a curto e medio prazos. Outrossim, estudos revelam diferencas importantes em relacao ao numero de vitimas e a gravidade dos acidentes de trânsito para diferentes grupos de usuarios da via publica. Em varios trabalhos, destaca-se que pedestres, motociclistas e ciclistas sao as principais vitimas desses acidentes, e as que sofrem trauma de maior gravidade. Pesquisas realizadas no Municipio de Londrina, Estado do Parana (PR), tem apontado o motociclista como a principal vitima de acidentes de trânsito. Em estudo realizado no ano de 1996, os motociclistas corresponderam a 44,4% das vitimas. Outra investigacao, no mesmo Municipio de Londrina-PR, ao analisar o periodo compreendido entre 1997 e 2000, traz os motociclistas como as principais vitimas do trânsito atendidas por servico de atencao pre-hospitalar, em todos os anos do periodo selecionado, sempre com valores superiores a 40%. Alguns autores apontam, como possivel causa para o aumento do numero de vitimas entre os motociclistas, a crescente utilizacao da motocicleta no mercado formal ou informal de trabalho, especialmente em servicos de tele-entrega de mercadorias (motoboys) ou transporte de passageiros (mototaxis). Destacam, tambem, a maior exposicao desses profissionais nas vias publicas, com realizacao de manobras arriscadas no trânsito e desempenho de altas velocidades no exercicio profissional. Apesar da crescente participacao de motoboys em servicos de entrega de mercadorias, todavia e bastante precario o conhecimento disponivel sobre a profissao e seus riscos, com raras publicacoes sobre o tema. Considerando-se, portanto, que os motoboys representam uma populacao de grande risco de envolvimento em acidentes de trânsito, dadas as constantes exigencias inerentes a seu exercicio profissional, como o cumprimento de metas em horarios estabelecidos e, geralmente, com ganho por produtividade, independentemente de condicoes climaticas, de trânsito ou de trabalho apresentadas, pretendeu-se, com este estudo, conhecer as caracteristicas dos motoboys atuantes no Municipio, suas condicoes de trabalho e a ocorrencia de acidentes.

Effectiveness of aquatic exercises compared to patient-education on health status in individuals with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial:

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of aquatic exercises with patient-education in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Design: Randomized controlled trial with blinded assessor and intention-to-treat analysis. Setting: Aquatic Physiotherapy Centre and Primary Health Care Unit. Subjects: A total of 60 patients, aged 68.3 (SD = 4.8) with clinical symptoms and radiographic grading (Kellgren–Lawrence 1–4) of knee osteoarthritis were included. Interventions: An eight-week treatment protocol of aquatic exercise (n = 31) (16 individual sessions, twice a week) and an educational program (group sessions, once a week) (n = 29). Main measures: Before, after eight-week intervention, and a three-month follow-up with results for the following outcome measures: pain, function, quality of life, functional mobility, and depression. Results: At the end of treatment, the WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) functional capacity values reduced in favour of the aquatic exercise group for both the total score MD (mean difference) = –14.2; 95% CI (confidence interval) (−18; −10.5), P = 0.04 and the pain domain MD = −3.8 points; 95% CI (−8.71; −1), P = 0.021. The total score also reduced in the follow-up: MD = −12.3 points; 95% CI (−24.7; −6.1), P = 0.017. No differences were found for the outcomes functional mobility or depression. Conclusion: Aquatic exercise improved pain and function after eight weeks, and function at the three-month follow-up compared to the patient-education program.