Occupational Health Problems: An Assessment of the Cardiovascular Health Status of Road Construction Workers in Imo State, Nigeria
Abstract
Aims and Scope: Road construction work is uniquely demanding and highly stressful, which may impact the cardiovascular system, and this study assessed the cardiovascular health status of road construction workers in Imo State, Nigeria, focusing on blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate (PR). Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed, using a multi-stage sampling technique from different construction sites across the 3 senatorial zones of Imo State to collect data from 353 male road construction workers through structured questionnaires and physical assessments (BP and PR measurements). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency distributions for categorical variables (e.g., prevalence of hypertension and tachycardia) and summary statistics such as means and standard deviations for continuous variables (e.g., BP and PR). Results: The results indicated that 23.2% of participants had systolic hypertension, 48.4% had high-normal systolic blood pressure (SBP), and only 28.3% had optimal and normal SBP. Also, 9.9% had diastolic hypertension, 19.8% had high-normal diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and 70% had optimal and normal DBP. The differences across the classes of BP were statistically significant, p<0.001. Also, 6.2% participants exhibited tachycardia, and the differences in the occurrence of diastolic hypertension and tachycardia across the senatorial zones were not statistically significant (p=0.11 and 0.45, respectively). Additionally, 76.2% of the workers lacked regular medical check-ups, and only 29.2% consistently used personal protective equipment (PPE). Conclusions: These findings underscore the significant cardiovascular health risks faced by road construction workers, exacerbated by limited access to healthcare and occupational safety measures. The findings highlight the need for improved occupational health policy enforcement, health education, routine screenings, and worksite health interventions.
Downloads
Metrics
PlumX Statistics
References
2. Darabont, D. C., Cioca, L. I., Bejinariu, C., Badea, D. O., Chivu, O. R., & Chiș, T. V. (2024). Impact of personal protective equipment use on stress and psychological well-being among firefighters: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Sustainability 2024, Vol. 16, Page 9666, 16(22), 9666. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU16229666
3. Debora, H. S., & Widanarko, B. (2020). The Association between Night Shift Work and Hypertension Among Workers at A Construction Company in Jakarta. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 16(3), 2636–9346.
4. Dias, M., Silva, L., Folgado, D., Nunes, M. L., Cepeda, C., Cheetham, M., & Gamboa, H. (2023). Cardiovascular load assessment in the workplace: A systematic review. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 96, 103476. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ERGON.2023.103476
5. ILO. (2024). Information system on international labour standards. International Labour Organization (ILO). https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12100:0::NO::P12100_ILO_CODE:R164%3B
6. Izudi, J., Ninsiima, V., & Alege, J. B. (2017). Use of Personal Protective Equipment among Building Construction Workers in Kampala, Uganda. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2017(1), 7930589. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/7930589
7. Johnson, O. E., & Motilewa, O. O. (2016). Knowledge and Use of Personal Protective Equipment among Auto Technicians in Uyo, Nigeria. Journal of Education, Society and Behavioural Science, 15(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.9734/BJESBS/2016/24546
8. Kamardeen, I. (2022). Work stress related cardiovascular diseases among construction professionals. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 12(2), 223–242. https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-06-2021-0081/FULL/XML
9. Karthick, S., Kermanshachi, S., Pamidimukkala, A., & Namian, M. (2023). A review of construction workforce health challenges and strategies in extreme weather conditions. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 29(2), 773–784. https://doi.org/10.1080/10803548.2022.2082138
10. Kumar, V., S, H., Huligowda, L. K. D., Umesh, M., Chakraborty, P., Thazeem, B., & Singh, A. P. (2025). Environmental Pollutants as Emerging Concerns for Cardiac Diseases: A Review on Their Impacts on Cardiac Health. Biomedicines 2025, Vol. 13, Page 241, 13(1), 241. https://doi.org/10.3390/BIOMEDICINES13010241
11. Li, Y., Yu, B., Yin, L., Li, X., & Nima, Q. (2024). Long-term exposure to particulate matter is associated with elevated blood pressure: Evidence from the Chinese plateau area. Journal of Global Health, 14, 04039. https://doi.org/10.7189/JOGH.14.04039
12. Liu, J., Zhu, B., Xia, Q., Ji, X., Pan, L., Bao, Y., Lin, Y., & Zhang, R. (2020). The effects of occupational noise exposure on the cardiovascular system: a review. Journal of Public Health and Emergency, 4, 5847. https://doi.org/10.21037/JPHE.2020.03.07
13. Malta, G., Matera, S., Plescia, F., Calascibetta, A., Argo, A., & Cannizzaro, E. (2024). Occupational accidents and the use of PPE: a global meta-analysis. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1368991. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPUBH.2024.1368991
14. Nwakamma, G. I., Amadi, A. N., Nworuh, B. O., Iwuala, C. C., Megwas, A. U., Ubani, U. A., & Innocent, D. C. (2025). Strategies Used in Preventing Air Pollutants on Ocular Health Among Road Transport Workers in Imo State, Nigeria. African Journal of Biology and Medical Research, 8(1), 97–109. https://doi.org/10.52589/AJBMR-RVYZS0XZ
15. OSHA. (2023). Personal Protective Equipment: Vol. OSHA 3151-02R 2023. U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
16. The Nigerian Hypertension Society. (2020). Guidelines for the management of hypertension in Nigeria 2020. Mosuro Publishers.
17. WHO. (2020). WHO Guidelines set new definitions, update treatment for hypertension. WHO Bulletin, 77(3), 293–294.
18. WHO. (2021, June 11). Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds)
19. Yankson, I. K., Nsiah-Achampong, N. K., Okyere, P., Afukaar, F., Otupiri, E., Donkor, P., Mock, C., & Owusu-Dabo, E. (2021). On-site personal protective equipment signage and use by road construction workers in Ghana: a comparative study of foreign- and locally-owned companies. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12889-021-12376-2/TABLES/6
20. Yi, W., & Chan, A. (2016). Health Profile of Construction Workers in Hong Kong. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2016, Vol. 13, Page 1232, 13(12), 1232. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH13121232
Copyright (c) 2025 John Mark Bwala, Agwu Nkwa Amadi, Chimezie Christian Iwuala, Ugo Uwadiako Enebeli

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.