Factors Influencing the Usage of Life-Saving Equipment among Commercial Boat Users and Operators in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

The likelihood of harmful events such as boat capsizing, injury, and drowning increases in a non-usage of life-saving equipment (LSE) and studies revealed that most drowning victims are generally low lifejacket users. The study assessed the factors influencing the usage of life-saving equipment among commercial boat users and operators in southern Nigeria. The study adopted the use of questionnaire in data gathering among commercial boat operators and users (commuters) from various jetties (12) which cut-across six (6) Southern States in Nigeria, where commercial boating activities is most predominant. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential (linear regression analysis) statistics. The outcome revealed that 38.7% of the operators uses the life-saving equipment due to compliance with work ethics while safety (30.1%) and prevention of drowning of the boat users (44.4%) were indicated as the factor influencing their usage of LSE. There was a weak correlation between determinant factors and compliance to life-saving equipment usage among boat users (R=0.128, R2 =0.016). Although compliance is compulsory across the studied jetties, there is need for an increased LSE awareness creation among the commuters to improve safety awareness and enforcement practice to ensure increase compliance among operators.