TOPIC: VISION ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLE DRIVERS IN GABORONE, BOTSWANA

ABSTRACT

Background: The ability to see is an important safe driving component because driving largely relies on vision for it to be executed successfully.  Good vision is a vital element of safe driving and pertinent sensory factor that accounts for approximately 95% of all sensory requirements.

Objective:  To assess the vision of public service vehicle drivers in Gaborone, Botswana. 

Study Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study will be adopted. 

Study Population: Public service vehicle drivers registered with the Driver’s Union including mini bus, bus and taxi drivers in Gaborone, Botswana. 

Method: A sample size of 122 PSV drivers will be selected. Convenience sampling will be used where all public service vehicle drivers who meet inclusion criteria arriving at the terminus or awaiting the next trip will be selected from all route destinations at the Gaborone bus rank/terminal until sample size is attained. The selected drivers will then be asked for a consent and thereafter examined in an office near the terminus. The examination will include visual acuity (far and near), torch examination to assess ocular alignment, examination of anterior segment with a slit lamp, color vision assessment, confrontational visual fields assessment and posterior segment examination where indicated.  Respondents will benefit by knowing the condition of their vision and be referred for further management and indigenous knowledge on vision assessment among PSV drivers in Gaborone will assist in strengthening/making policies.

Data Management and Analysis:  Data will be checked for completeness and freed of error

prior to entry to Microsoft excel and thereafter transferred to SPSS 23.0. Data will be analyzed

and summarized as means and standard deviations or as median with interquartile range for

continuous data, or with frequency and propo