Assessment of the Level of Awareness of Health Hazards and Practices of Waste Scavengers in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

Waste scavengers in developing countries are informal actors in the recycling of tons of waste generated in urban centers. These scavengers are often poor and uneducated persons who may be ignorant or too poor to mind the hazards of their profession. The aim of this study is to assess the level of awareness of health hazards associated with waste scavenging among scavengers in Enugu, Nigeria, as well as assess their attitude towards health hazard and safety. Three hundred and ninety-five (395) waste scavengers were picked via multistage and random sampling technique from the three senatorial zones in Enugu State and administered close ended questionnaire. Results showed 72.7% poor level of awareness of health hazards among waste pickers and 63.6% poor level of attitude towards precautionary measures to health hazard and safety. There is a positive relationship between level of education, marital status and awareness of health hazards, and between age, religion, level of education, marital status, income and attitude towards health hazards and safety. As a recommendation, waste scavenger should be educated to appreciate the real dangers of their occupation and to change their work attitude, in other to safeguard their health.