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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0BMC Public Health

Contrast sensitivity and stereoacuity predict road traffic accidents among drivers in Ghana: a case-control study

  • Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi1
  • Selina Holdbrook1
  • Enyam Komla Morny2
  • Randy Asiamah3
  • Samuel Kyei3,4
  • Emmanuella Konama Boahen1
  • Rita Yelimaa Benyem1
4 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Clinical Optometry, School of Optometry and Vision Science, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
  2. 2Department of Vision Science, School of Optometry and Vision Science, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
  3. 3Biomedical and Clinical Research Centre, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
  4. 4Department of Ophthalmic Science, School of Optometry and Vision Science, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
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Abstract

Background: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a growing public health concern across sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana. While human error is the leading cause, the role of visual function is often overlooked. This study investigates the relationship between visual function and accident involvement among drivers in Cape Coast, Ghana.

Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study involving 242 licensed drivers (121 cases, 121 controls) was conducted at the School of Optometry and Vision Science Eye Clinic, University of Cape Coast. Drivers aged 18 years and older were included in the study. Visual assessments included visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, stereoacuity, colour vision, visual fields, and refractive error. Data were analysed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test, Fisher’s Exact Test, and multivariate logistic regression.

Results: Mean age was comparable between groups (cases: 39 ± 11 years; controls: 39 ± 12 years). Drivers with accident history demonstrated significantly poorer stereoacuity (9.9% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.020) and contrast sensitivity (7.4% vs. 0.8%, p = 0.022). Visual acuity showed no significant difference (p = 0.6). Multivariate logistic regression showed that contrast sensitivity (1.75 ± 0.16 vs. 1.80 ± 0.11; p = 0.022) and stereoacuity (113.55 ± 89.18 vs. 87.77 ± 40.28 arcsec; p = 0.020) were the independent predictors of accident involvement, with ROC analysis showing poor discriminatory power (AUC = 0.635) for contrast sensitivity.

Conclusion: Contrast sensitivity and stereoacuity were independently associated with RTAs among drivers in Cape Coast. These findings suggest that assessments of contrast sensitivity and stereoacuity may provide useful complementary information beyond conventional visual acuity testing.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28786-z.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{boadikusi2026contrast,
  title = {{Contrast sensitivity and stereoacuity predict road traffic accidents among drivers in Ghana: a case-control study}},
  author = {Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi and Selina Holdbrook and Enyam Komla Morny and Randy Asiamah and Samuel Kyei and Emmanuella Konama Boahen and Rita Yelimaa Benyem},
  journal = {BMC Public Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-28786-z},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28786-z},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Contrast sensitivity and stereoacuity predict road traffic accidents among drivers in Ghana: a case-control study
AU  - Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi
AU  - Selina Holdbrook
AU  - Enyam Komla Morny
AU  - Randy Asiamah
AU  - Samuel Kyei
AU  - Emmanuella Konama Boahen
AU  - Rita Yelimaa Benyem
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/30
JO  - BMC Public Health
DO  - 10.1186/s12889-026-28786-z
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28786-z
AB  - Background: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a growing public health concern across sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana. While human error is the leading cause, the role of visual function is often overlooked. This study investigates the relationship between visual function and accident involvement among drivers in Cape Coast, Ghana.  Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study involving 242 licensed drivers (121 cases, 121 controls) was conducted at the School of Optometry and Vision Science Eye Clinic, University of Cape Coast. Drivers aged 18 years and older were included in the study. Visual assessments included visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, stereoacuity, colour vision, visual fields, and refractive error. Data were analysed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test, Fisher’s Exact Test, and multivariate logistic regression.  Results: Mean age was comparable between groups (cases: 39 ± 11 years; controls: 39 ± 12 years). Drivers with accident history demonstrated significantly poorer stereoacuity (9.9% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.020) and contrast sensitivity (7.4% vs. 0.8%, p = 0.022). Visual acuity showed no significant difference (p = 0.6). Multivariate logistic regression showed that contrast sensitivity (1.75 ± 0.16 vs. 1.80 ± 0.11; p = 0.022) and stereoacuity (113.55 ± 89.18 vs. 87.77 ± 40.28 arcsec; p = 0.020) were the independent predictors of accident involvement, with ROC analysis showing poor discriminatory power (AUC = 0.635) for contrast sensitivity.  Conclusion: Contrast sensitivity and stereoacuity were independently associated with RTAs among drivers in Cape Coast. These findings suggest that assessments of contrast sensitivity and stereoacuity may provide useful complementary information beyond conventional visual acuity testing.  Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28786-z.
SN  - 1471-2458
ER  -