<b><span>Background</span></b><span><span>: Often, long-distance truck drivers’ (LDTDs’) work predisposes them to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) whose outcomes are influen...<b><span>Background</span></b><span><span>: Often, long-distance truck drivers’ (LDTDs’) work predisposes them to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) whose outcomes are influenced by access and behavior of seeking sexual health care. </span><b></b></span><b><b><span>Methodology</span></b><span>:</span></b><span> In this study, we assessed the utilization of HIV/STI preventive services and associated factors among 296 LDTDs operating along the northern corridor highway using an interviewer-administered questionnaire for data collection at Mlolongo stopover in Machakos, Kenya. Responses for the investigated variables, including condom use, history of HIV testing, frequency of HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy (ART) use and follow-up for the HIV positive and STI treatment, were assigned a score of either 1 or 0 depending on the question’s dimension. Following summing up for each participant, we computed a weighted score ranging between 0 and 1 by dividing the summed responses by the number of eligible variables. We arbitrarily multiplied these scores by 8 to generate endpoint scores ranging from one to eight for each participant to help create a dichotomized outcome variable for utilization levels: limited utilization (1 to 4) and good utilization (5 to 8). Association between certain independent variables and the outcome variable (level of utilization of H.I.V./STIs preventive services) w</span><span>as</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span><span> analyzed using binomial logistic regression analysis in R statistical software. </span><b></b></span><b><b><span>Results</span></b><span>:</span></b><span> The mean age of the LDTDs was 38.4 years, ranging from 24 - 57 years. The majority (n = 287, 97%) of the LDTDs had been tested on HIV at least once since the beginning of their career. Only 4.9% of the LDTDs had been tested on HIV within the previous three months. Of the 175 LDTDs who reported a history of STI, most (n = 173, 98.9%) of them had sought treatment. Condom use rates were higher (97.1%) among the LDTDs who had sexual interactions with casual sexual partners compared to 47.2% among regular sexual partners. Analyses classed most of the respondents (n = 231, 78.0%) as having good utilization, while the rest (22%) had limited utilization. History of STI was independently associated with utilizing HIV/STI preventive services (OR 8.4;95% CI;4.5,</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span><span>16.7;P < 0.001). </span><b></b></span><b><b><span>Conclusion</span></b><span>:</span></b> </span><span>Although most of the LDTDs were </span><span>classed to have good utilization of HIV/STI preventive services, the uptake of subsequent HIV testing services among </span><span>them</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span> was low at only 4.9%. </span><span>The association of STI history with utilization levels that we determined supports policies of integrating HIV and STI services in the delivery of sexual healthcare provision among LDTDs.</span></span>展开更多
The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (AIDS) and hepatitis B virus among heavy truck drivers and their assistants has been well documented globally in correlation with their behavioral characteristics. The pr...The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (AIDS) and hepatitis B virus among heavy truck drivers and their assistants has been well documented globally in correlation with their behavioral characteristics. The present study aimed to screen for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and behavioral characteristics among heavy truck drivers in Port Sudan. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 274 heavy truck drivers and their assistants who used the highway Port Sudan-Khartoum in Port Sudan city during 2019-2021. Data on behavioral characteristics and substance use habits were collected using a structured questionnaire, and an ELISA test was used to screen for HIV and HBV infections in the study participants. The chi-square test, odds ratio, and confidence intervals were used to find the association between behavioral characteristics and seropositive HIV/HBV. Of the 274 enrolled participants, the seroprevalence rates of HIV were 2.7% and HBV was 23.7%. Ninety-four (34.3%) of them had a history of high-risk sexual behavior outside of marriage;only two (0.7%) used condoms;14.2% of participants reported alcohol use;and 1.1% reported drug use. Univariate analysis revealed that having a sex history outside of marriage with ≥1 sex partner and never using a condom with a spouse or casual partner were significant risk factors for HIV and HBV among drivers. Fortunately, we found that most of the drivers reported low alcohol and drug use. Concerning this study, the seroprevalence of HIV and HBV is highly associated with a history of having sex outside of marriage and sexual behavior among truck drivers and assistances. Additional studies are needed to further investigate other STIs and behavioral characteristics associated with factors in truck drivers/assistance in different truck stop regions in Sudan.展开更多
In-cab alerts warn commercial vehicle drivers of upcoming roadway incidents, slowdowns and work zone construction activities. This paper reports on a study evaluating the driver response to in-cab alerts in Ohio. Driv...In-cab alerts warn commercial vehicle drivers of upcoming roadway incidents, slowdowns and work zone construction activities. This paper reports on a study evaluating the driver response to in-cab alerts in Ohio. Driver response was evaluated by measuring the statistical trends of vehicle speeds after the in-cab alerts were received. Vehicle speeds pre and post in-cab alert were collected over a 47 day period in the fall of 2023 for trucks traveling on interstate roadways in Ohio. Results show that approximately 22% of drivers receiving Dangerous Slowdown alerts had reduced their speeds by at least 5 mph 30 seconds after receiving such an alert. Segmenting this analysis by speed found that of vehicles traveling at or above 70 mph at the time of alerting, 26% reduced speeds by at least 5 mph. These speed reductions suggest drivers taking actional measures after receiving alerts. Future studies will involve further analysis on the impact of the types of alerts shown, roadway characteristics and overall traffic conditions on truck speeds passing through work zones.展开更多
Introduction: Untreated sleep disorders can increase driver crash risk by up to 7 fold, and truck drivers have a variety of risk factors for sleep disorders. Measures currently used to identify drivers at risk depend ...Introduction: Untreated sleep disorders can increase driver crash risk by up to 7 fold, and truck drivers have a variety of risk factors for sleep disorders. Measures currently used to identify drivers at risk depend predominantly on the ability of the driver to identify and report themselves as sleepy. Methods: This case report presents a 54 year old long distance truck driver who participated in a case-control study, underwent at home breathing monitoring and was followed up with an in-depth interview. Results: Self-reported measures did not identify this driver as at risk of sleepiness or sleep apnea;yet he was subsequently diagnosed with severe sleep apnea using an at home monitor and polysomnography. Conclusions: Self-assessment of risk factors is insufficient as a screen for sleep apnea. General practitioners are in an ideal position to identify potential sleep apnea sufferers and can initiate the enquiry process that leads to diagnostic testing.展开更多
The paper was a truck transporting system that based on system engineering theory and driver, truck-and-train, road and transporting environment were essential factors. It analyzed andstudied nine subsystems consisted...The paper was a truck transporting system that based on system engineering theory and driver, truck-and-train, road and transporting environment were essential factors. It analyzed andstudied nine subsystems consisted of the tfour tactors, ensured running safety, high efficieney and lowconsumption of transporting truck and increased using time of truck and road.展开更多
Professional drivers are more frequently exposed to longer driving distance and travel time,leading to a higher possibility of safety risk for distraction and fatigue.The widespread and common use of commercial driver...Professional drivers are more frequently exposed to longer driving distance and travel time,leading to a higher possibility of safety risk for distraction and fatigue.The widespread and common use of commercial driver monitoring systems(DMS)provides a potential for data collection.It increases the amount of data characterizing driver behavior that can be used for further safety research.This study utilized DMS warning-based data and applied an association rule mining approach to explore risk factors contributing to hazardous materials(HAZMAT)truck driver inattention.A total of 499 HAZMAT truck driver inattentive warning events were used to find rules that will predict the occurrence of driver’s fatigue and distraction.First,Fisher’s exact tests were performed to examine the association between the frequency of driver inattentive behavior warnings and risk factors.Second,support,confidence,and lift values were used as measurements to quantify the relative strength of the association rules generated by the Apriori algorithm.Results show that speed between 40and 49 km/h,relatively longer travel time(3-6 h),freeway,tangent section,off-peak hour and clear weather condition are found to be highly associated with fatigue driving,while nighttime during 18:00 to 23:59,speed between 70 and 80 km/h,travel time between 1 and 3 h,freeways,acceleration less than 0.5 m/s^(2),visibility greater than 1000 m,and tangent roadway section are found to be highly associated with distracted driving.By focusing on the specific feature groups,these association rules would help in the development of mitigating distraction and fatigue driving countermeasures and enforcement approaches.展开更多
文摘<b><span>Background</span></b><span><span>: Often, long-distance truck drivers’ (LDTDs’) work predisposes them to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) whose outcomes are influenced by access and behavior of seeking sexual health care. </span><b></b></span><b><b><span>Methodology</span></b><span>:</span></b><span> In this study, we assessed the utilization of HIV/STI preventive services and associated factors among 296 LDTDs operating along the northern corridor highway using an interviewer-administered questionnaire for data collection at Mlolongo stopover in Machakos, Kenya. Responses for the investigated variables, including condom use, history of HIV testing, frequency of HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy (ART) use and follow-up for the HIV positive and STI treatment, were assigned a score of either 1 or 0 depending on the question’s dimension. Following summing up for each participant, we computed a weighted score ranging between 0 and 1 by dividing the summed responses by the number of eligible variables. We arbitrarily multiplied these scores by 8 to generate endpoint scores ranging from one to eight for each participant to help create a dichotomized outcome variable for utilization levels: limited utilization (1 to 4) and good utilization (5 to 8). Association between certain independent variables and the outcome variable (level of utilization of H.I.V./STIs preventive services) w</span><span>as</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span><span> analyzed using binomial logistic regression analysis in R statistical software. </span><b></b></span><b><b><span>Results</span></b><span>:</span></b><span> The mean age of the LDTDs was 38.4 years, ranging from 24 - 57 years. The majority (n = 287, 97%) of the LDTDs had been tested on HIV at least once since the beginning of their career. Only 4.9% of the LDTDs had been tested on HIV within the previous three months. Of the 175 LDTDs who reported a history of STI, most (n = 173, 98.9%) of them had sought treatment. Condom use rates were higher (97.1%) among the LDTDs who had sexual interactions with casual sexual partners compared to 47.2% among regular sexual partners. Analyses classed most of the respondents (n = 231, 78.0%) as having good utilization, while the rest (22%) had limited utilization. History of STI was independently associated with utilizing HIV/STI preventive services (OR 8.4;95% CI;4.5,</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span><span>16.7;P < 0.001). </span><b></b></span><b><b><span>Conclusion</span></b><span>:</span></b> </span><span>Although most of the LDTDs were </span><span>classed to have good utilization of HIV/STI preventive services, the uptake of subsequent HIV testing services among </span><span>them</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span> was low at only 4.9%. </span><span>The association of STI history with utilization levels that we determined supports policies of integrating HIV and STI services in the delivery of sexual healthcare provision among LDTDs.</span></span>
文摘The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (AIDS) and hepatitis B virus among heavy truck drivers and their assistants has been well documented globally in correlation with their behavioral characteristics. The present study aimed to screen for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and behavioral characteristics among heavy truck drivers in Port Sudan. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 274 heavy truck drivers and their assistants who used the highway Port Sudan-Khartoum in Port Sudan city during 2019-2021. Data on behavioral characteristics and substance use habits were collected using a structured questionnaire, and an ELISA test was used to screen for HIV and HBV infections in the study participants. The chi-square test, odds ratio, and confidence intervals were used to find the association between behavioral characteristics and seropositive HIV/HBV. Of the 274 enrolled participants, the seroprevalence rates of HIV were 2.7% and HBV was 23.7%. Ninety-four (34.3%) of them had a history of high-risk sexual behavior outside of marriage;only two (0.7%) used condoms;14.2% of participants reported alcohol use;and 1.1% reported drug use. Univariate analysis revealed that having a sex history outside of marriage with ≥1 sex partner and never using a condom with a spouse or casual partner were significant risk factors for HIV and HBV among drivers. Fortunately, we found that most of the drivers reported low alcohol and drug use. Concerning this study, the seroprevalence of HIV and HBV is highly associated with a history of having sex outside of marriage and sexual behavior among truck drivers and assistances. Additional studies are needed to further investigate other STIs and behavioral characteristics associated with factors in truck drivers/assistance in different truck stop regions in Sudan.
文摘In-cab alerts warn commercial vehicle drivers of upcoming roadway incidents, slowdowns and work zone construction activities. This paper reports on a study evaluating the driver response to in-cab alerts in Ohio. Driver response was evaluated by measuring the statistical trends of vehicle speeds after the in-cab alerts were received. Vehicle speeds pre and post in-cab alert were collected over a 47 day period in the fall of 2023 for trucks traveling on interstate roadways in Ohio. Results show that approximately 22% of drivers receiving Dangerous Slowdown alerts had reduced their speeds by at least 5 mph 30 seconds after receiving such an alert. Segmenting this analysis by speed found that of vehicles traveling at or above 70 mph at the time of alerting, 26% reduced speeds by at least 5 mph. These speed reductions suggest drivers taking actional measures after receiving alerts. Future studies will involve further analysis on the impact of the types of alerts shown, roadway characteristics and overall traffic conditions on truck speeds passing through work zones.
文摘Introduction: Untreated sleep disorders can increase driver crash risk by up to 7 fold, and truck drivers have a variety of risk factors for sleep disorders. Measures currently used to identify drivers at risk depend predominantly on the ability of the driver to identify and report themselves as sleepy. Methods: This case report presents a 54 year old long distance truck driver who participated in a case-control study, underwent at home breathing monitoring and was followed up with an in-depth interview. Results: Self-reported measures did not identify this driver as at risk of sleepiness or sleep apnea;yet he was subsequently diagnosed with severe sleep apnea using an at home monitor and polysomnography. Conclusions: Self-assessment of risk factors is insufficient as a screen for sleep apnea. General practitioners are in an ideal position to identify potential sleep apnea sufferers and can initiate the enquiry process that leads to diagnostic testing.
文摘The paper was a truck transporting system that based on system engineering theory and driver, truck-and-train, road and transporting environment were essential factors. It analyzed andstudied nine subsystems consisted of the tfour tactors, ensured running safety, high efficieney and lowconsumption of transporting truck and increased using time of truck and road.
基金supported by National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFC3001500).
文摘Professional drivers are more frequently exposed to longer driving distance and travel time,leading to a higher possibility of safety risk for distraction and fatigue.The widespread and common use of commercial driver monitoring systems(DMS)provides a potential for data collection.It increases the amount of data characterizing driver behavior that can be used for further safety research.This study utilized DMS warning-based data and applied an association rule mining approach to explore risk factors contributing to hazardous materials(HAZMAT)truck driver inattention.A total of 499 HAZMAT truck driver inattentive warning events were used to find rules that will predict the occurrence of driver’s fatigue and distraction.First,Fisher’s exact tests were performed to examine the association between the frequency of driver inattentive behavior warnings and risk factors.Second,support,confidence,and lift values were used as measurements to quantify the relative strength of the association rules generated by the Apriori algorithm.Results show that speed between 40and 49 km/h,relatively longer travel time(3-6 h),freeway,tangent section,off-peak hour and clear weather condition are found to be highly associated with fatigue driving,while nighttime during 18:00 to 23:59,speed between 70 and 80 km/h,travel time between 1 and 3 h,freeways,acceleration less than 0.5 m/s^(2),visibility greater than 1000 m,and tangent roadway section are found to be highly associated with distracted driving.By focusing on the specific feature groups,these association rules would help in the development of mitigating distraction and fatigue driving countermeasures and enforcement approaches.