AN ASSESSMENT OF PERCEPTION OF WASTE-PICKERS AND RISK-PROTECTIVE BEHAVIOUR FROM SELECTED DUMPSITES IN OGUN STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

Waste-pickers experience situations which place them at high risk of developing morbidities mainly external and internal injuries. The present study investigated the waste-pickers perception of waste-handling and risk-protective behavior from chosen dumpsites in Ogun State, Nigeria. This study adopted a cross-sectional design and a multi-stage sampling technique, this was used to choose 60 waste-pickers. A structured and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Educated waste-pickers had elementary education. The time interval of waste-picking ranged from 1 to 15 years. The majority of the waste-pickers had a poor perception of waste-handling. The majority of the waste-pickers had poor risk-protective behavior. Only 9(15%) reported using personal protective gears every time. The waste-pickers reported that they used the following PPEs; long sleeve shirt 46(22.0%) and trousers 51(24.4%). However, few used trousers 51(24.4%); boot/shoe 43(20.6%) and cap 24(11.5%). Fifty percent of the waste-pickers reported that they washed up after the day’s job. In conclusion, the waste-pickers had poor perception and poor risk-protective behavior. This study recommends that policy makers and charity organizations should educate waste-pickers on the importance of using protective gears and proper waste-handling.