Abstract
This is a descriptive research study on Environmental Hygiene and Health Status of traders in Akpan Andem Market. This study aimed at examining how regular disposal of waste can affect the health status of traders in Akpan Andem Market. To assess the availability of sanitation facilities and its effect on health status of traders in Akpan Andem Market. To examine the availability of regular water supply and its impact on health status of traders in Akpan Andem Market. The target population for the study was two thousand stall owners in Akpan Andem Market, Uyo while the accessible population was 100 respondents which were drawn using Simple Random Sampling Technique to participate in the study. Data were collected using questionnaires comprising of 21 items. Data obtained were analyzed using percentages and frequency which were presented in tables and charts. The findings of the study revealed that 95% of the respondents linked Diarrhea, catarrh, cough, malaria, cholera with lack of environmental hygiene due to inadequate sanitation facilities, irregular water supply and irregular waste disposal system. From the findings, the researcher concluded that if sanitation facilities, regular water supply and proper waste disposal system are made available in Akpan Andem Market, environmental hygiene and health status of traders will be improved. The researcher therefore recommended among others that government and management of Akpan Andem Market should provide the necessary sanitation facilities such as adequate water supply, good toilet facilities and disposal system and effective drainage system. This will improve environmental hygiene and minimize serious health problems among traders in Akpan Andem Market.
Chapter One
Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
The term environment has been defined by different personalities with different views. Uchegbu, S. N., 2000 views the environment in terms of ecology and defines it as the science of the organism in relation to other organisms of different species, and to those of its own kind. It was also reported that the Oxford Advanced Learners English Dictionary however, defines the environment as conditions, circumstances etc. affecting people lives (Uchegbu, S. N., 2000). In another development, environment has been defined as the sum total of all conditions that surround man at any point in time on the earth’s surface (Uchegbu, S. N., 2000).
Environment has been categorized by Canter (1975) as air environment; water environment; noise environment; biological environment; cultural environment; and socioeconomic environment. The environment is normally viewed in the physical sense as explained by Holderness & Lambert (1982), who stated that environment is made up of air, water and land (Holderness & Lambert, 1982). Therefore, environment refers to the natural environment in which man, animals and plants live and interact, it includes basically the land, water and air. It is upon this natural surrounding that all creatures depend for their existence and sustenance (Uchegbu, S. N., 2000). However, living components of creation are found in all facets of the physical environment. Under a normal condition, the living things interact symbolically among themselves and with lite physical environment, it has been noted that before man came to (he scene), the physical environment was as pure as the spring water, Uchegbu, S.N. added.
Uchegbu, S.N. (2000) also, stated that man’s activities on the environment have tended to degrade and make the environment untidy/unneatened and unlit for human habitation because of its poor sanitation nature. However, sanitation is said to be the state of cleanliness. It is a broad concept and connotes the process of keeping something clean. According to Kpatriok K. (1980), sanitation is the arrangement for protecting the health, especially the removal of the human, industrial and domestic wastes. Sanitation is also a process embarked upon to keep the total of man’s environment hazard free, as added by Kpatriok, (1980).
According to Uchegbu, S.N. (2000) Sanitation is aimed at protection and promotion of public health which is meant for the improvement of environment. Thus, the three concepts such as environment, sanitation and public health are inter-related because each one of them affects the other. Public health was viewed as a state of individuals’ well-being due to the influences and impacts of the physical environment and sanitation practices of the community. Good health is part of the overall development of a community.
The issue of public health is a concern to the citizen and everybody or organization, it is the science and art of preventing diseases; prolonging life; promoting physical and mental health and efficiency through organized community efforts such as proper sanitization of the environment; the control of community infection; all of which will ensure a standard of living for every individual in the community, this will adequately maintain healthy conditions (Uchegbu, S.N. 2000).
Public health however, has been defined as a science and art that deals with the protection and improvement of community health by organized community’s efforts, this include: preventive medicine, sanitary and social services (Uchegbu, S.N. 2000). Accordingly, public health is an effort organized by society to protect, promote and restore people’s health, it is the combination of sciences, skill and beliefs that are directed to the maintenance and improvement of health through collective and social actions. Public health emphasizes the prevention of diseases and this can be achieved through proper sanitation. Sanitation whether in the urban or rural area protects and/or enhances the environment and by extension the health of the citizens. Sanitation is thus, the aspect of environment which may affect the health of the citizen Uchegbu, S.N. (2000) added.
According to (Worlanyo, E.K., 2013) One of the crucial, unsolved, or even unresolved problems for those concerned with the quality of life in the world, especially the developing world is that of adequate, accessible and acceptable basic sanitation. It was reported that human right to sanitation is directly linked to other human rights.
Moreover, the right to sanitation involves explicit requirements in terms of accessibility, affordability, availability, quality and acceptability (Worlanyo, E.K., 2013). Based on this Mulama (2008) argues that sanitation is more important than political independence. It is a commonly held view, that developing countries would follow the development path forged ahead by industrialised countries, these developing countries Nigeria inclusive need to be aided by the developed countries before they move forward in terms of sanitation progress (McGranahan, Pedro, Songsore, Surjadi, & Marianne, 2001).
1.2 Statement of Problems
According to McGranahan et al (2001) urban sanitary practices of industrialised countries, have helped contribute to the dignity, health and wealth of people in those countries, and thus have great bearing on the practices and the aspirations of developing countries. Markets, municipalities, cities and towns need to grapple with the problem of Solid Waste Management, especially plastic waste, which inclusively the Akpan Andem Market in Uyo suffers (Amankwah, 2005). The issue of improved sanitation has to be given priority in Akpan Andem Market in Uyo, since sanitation benefits connect between environment and health (Harvey, 2008). Sanitation program has to do with solid waste management, specifically the plastic waste menace/danger.
The enormous and huge amounts of plastic waste generated throughout the world are the most crucially posed challenges lead to raised questions on how to manage wastes efficiently and effectively to save the environment and the continuous existence of mankind (Uchegbu, S.N., 2000). A solid waste is any material which comes from domestic, commercial, and industrial sources arising from human activities which has no value to people who possess it and is discarded as useless (Freduah, 2004; 2007).
However, the population densities in urbanised areas and per capita waste generation increased, the available land for waste disposal decreased proportionately (Shafiul & Mansoor, 2003). Sanitation thus emerged as an essential, specialised sector for keeping cities healthy and liveable (Fobil, 2000). Hunter (2000) predicts that in the foreseeable future more than half of the world’s population will live in urban areas, and that the developing countries, including Nigeria will be the worst hit by sanitation problems if care is not taken.
The contribution of trading activities to the livelihoods of the population, particularly in the informal sector cannot be overemphasized (Aryeetey & Nyanteng, 2006). The market place as an important structural part of the local economy which facilitates the exchange of commodities, transfer of monies, traffic generation, information flow and other forms of spatial and social interactions also leads to waste generation especially, plastic waste (Worlanyo, E.K., 2013). This issue has the potential for environmental pollution with its attendant public health implications (Aryeetey & Nyanteng, 2006; Mwanza, 2001). Inadequate environmental sanitation has been recognized as a public health hazard worldwide (Ekong, Ibanga Eyo, 2015).
Public health problems associated with lack of effective environmental sanitation can be reduced/eliminated favourably if proper sanitary activities are performed by market traders. Thus, actions that threaten lifestyle or take up personal time (spending more time to do sorting of waste for example could have economic costs on market users and would not be widely supported (Fortner, et al., 2000; O’Connor et al., 2002). However, behaviour change strategies that are consistent with the public’s awareness and understanding of improved environmental sanitation are therefore necessary in order for sustainable policy to be developed (Plotnikoff, et al., 2004).
People defecate in public if they have poor access to sanitation that would enable them to eliminate their human excrement Worlanyo, E.K., (2013). According to the latest report on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, eighteen percent of the world population defecates in the open. This was about 1.2 billion people out of the already 2.5 billion people in the developing countries including Nigeria without access to basic sanitation (Worlanyo, E.K., 2013) added.
The possible causes of increase in flood severity around cities in Nigeria, Kano inclusive ranged from inadequate flood management practices to poor waste management and lack of proper drainage system. However, urban floods occurred when drainage system, gutters and other storm control devices spilt to its plains/areas of land and over flow to flood control devices during heavy rains. Drains, as well as rivers and streams near the urban centres were often choked with refuse or silted up, this resulted in reduced capacity of river and stream channels causing flooding (Worlanyo, E.K., 2013).
According to Domfeh (1999), Environmental pollution could be ascribed to the uncontrolled disposal of both industrial and domestic waste which created problems in the collection and disposal of human waste in the metropolis. The spread of diseases through food was common problem which resulted in appreciable morbidity and occasional mortality. Traders played important roles in ensuring food safety throughout the chain of production, processing, storage and preparation (Abanobi, Dozie, Ukaga et al., 2009) added. Thus, the researchers recognized the importance of market traders with regard to healthy sanitation practices, hence the development of this research work to objectively investigate the Environmental Hygiene Practices Among Traders of Akpan Andem Market, in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. This led to the preliminary observations, investigation as well as documentation to in order to find the possible solutions to the environmental sanitation problems in the study area.
The issue of environmental sanitation in Nigeria Akwa Ibom State in particular faces major challenges such as waste disposal especially, plastic waste which has become a major problem of several markets in the state as a result of highest business-related activities. Akpan Andem Market which this study focused on, is facing environmental sanitation challenges as well, this is closely related to plastic wastes and other human wastes generated which have the potential to destroy the natural environment in which human and natural resources in the state and the country inhabit. The status of the local and traditional markets in the state Akpan Andem Market is in hard, bad, nasty and deteriorated condition in which the heaps of refuse and other solid wastes might have turn to be a fuel when there is fire outbreak. The market places face challenges of environmental sanitation, such as improper drainage system; lack of good refuse disposal systems; inadequate number of toilets and bathrooms; blockage of essential routines and exits that will be used for emergency purposes; lack of health facilities; absence of health personnel, to mention few are the common problems in the market.
It is based on these problems that the researchers intend to investigate whether the factors therein such as gender, age and education level; lack of sanitation practices by the market traders with regard to sanitation programs; traders’ personal cleanliness; or the government supporting negligence that have contributed to the problems observed by the researchers in study area.
1.3 Research Questions
- How can regular disposal of waste affect the health status of traders?
- How can availability of sanitation facilities effect health status of traders?
- How can availability of regular water supply impact the health supply and its impact on health status of traders of Akpan Andem Market?
1.4 Research Objectives
The main objective of this study is to investigate the impacts of environmental hygiene on the health status of the Traders in Akpan Andem Market, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The specific objectives are:
- To examine how can regular disposal of waste can affect the health status.
- To assess the availability of sanitation facilities and its effect on health status of traders.
- To examine the availability of regular water supply and its impacts on health status Akpan Andem Market.
1.5 Significance of the Study
This study is of immense benefit in the following ways:
- The study explores appropriate strategies and recommendations to facilitate good sanitation practices in all market places of Akwa Ibom.
- The study will serve as a reference point to the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Akwa Ibom State Refuse Management and Sanitation Board (REMASAB) and other concerned bodies for sustainable development of sanitation programs in Akpan Andem Market and other market places of the state with similar problems.
- It will also give an in-depth understanding of what the problems of poor sanitation practices are and the strategies to tackle the problems in the market area, Akwa Ibom state and other Nigerian states as well.
- The study will also contribute to the existing body of knowledge with regard to sanitation practices among market traders of Akpan Andem Market toward achieving effective as well as efficient environmental sanitation in the state.
- The study will also stimulate further research on the subject in the area and other market places with similar problems in the state and the country in general.
1.6 Definition of Key Terms
Environmental Hygiene: Environmental hygiene encompasses effective cleaning of surfaces using appropriate products, decontamination of medical equipment and devices used in patient-care procedures, safe and appropriate handling of sharps, blood and body fluid spills, waste and linen.
Health: health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being in which disease and infirmity are absent
Sanitation: Sanitation refers to public health conditions related to clean drinking water and adequate treatment and disposal of human excreta and sewage.
Waste: Waste are unwanted or unusable materials. Waste is any substance which is discarded after primary use, or is worthless, defective and of no use
Waste Management: Waste management includes the activities and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal.