Alcohol use and health conditions among truck drivers/Uso de alcool e condicoes de saude de motoristas de caminhao/Uso de alcohol y condiciones de salud de conductores de camion

This study aimed to identify the alcohol use and the health condition of truck drivers participating in a health campaign. The methodological design is an descriptive of the quantitative approach. Data collection was conducted between August and October 2006 on a highway in Sao Paulo State, Brazil, by means of a questionnaire containing demographic information, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and health conditions issues. Among 1087 participants, 827 were truck drivers, predominantly male, adult, white, and married, with low level of education and Catholic religion. The results pointed out a list of risks among drivers who scored more than eight points in the AUDIT, who had high blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels above normal, and overweight and obesity. Early identification of both problems is a valid alternative to the implementation of preventive actions to this population.