1.1 Introduction
Environmental hygiene is the process of keeping places free from dirt, infection, diseases by removing wastes, trash and garbage by cleaning streets, schools and homes using disinfectants and other health safety equipments. An improved sanitation facility is one that hygienically separates human excreta from human contact (WHO, 2010; Hutton et al., 2004). Safe hygiene practice includes a broad range of healthy behaviours, such as hand washing before eating and after cleaning a child’s bottom, and safe faeces disposal. It also means promoting health through the prevention of human contact with the hazards associated with the lack of healthy food, clean water and healthful housing, the control of vectors and a clean environment. It focuses on management of waste produced by human activities.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Environmental health is broader than hygiene and sanitation; it encompasses hygiene, sanitation and many other aspects of the environment. It also involves studying the environmental factors that affect health. In developing countries like Nigeria, proper waste disposal in markets is a source of concern as markets spring up with less attention to provision of proper refuse dumps; According to Ololadeet al., (2009) man has carelessly polluted the environment in an attempt to dispose waste materials.
One major challenge in a large market is that the generation of waste may outweigh the evacuation pattern and thus increase public health risks. The study area which is Akpan Andem market is one of the largest markets in the city of Uyo. The market usually attracts large gathering of buyers and seller, goods are exchanged for money on daily bases in the market. Categories of unwanted items in the market ranges from combustible materials like papers, plastics, food stuff waste to non-combustible materials like glasses and metals.
According to Meidina and Gamse (2010), markets contribute about 20% of waste generation; they are the second largest generator of municipal solid waste after households. Waste generation encompasses those activities in which materials are identified as no longer of value and are either discarded or gathered together for disposal (Momoh and Oladebeye, 2010).
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.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Environmental Hygiene and Health Status of Traders.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the 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). The problem of poor environmental hygiene has been a threat to individuals’ urinary system which has persisted in spite of the enlightenment toward the danger of poor sanitation in school environment.
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).
More so, some sellers in the market lack waste storage containers and are left with no option than to dispose their waste in places suitable to them. Despite the growing concern of waste management in many market in the city Akpan Andem market inclusive, the assessment of solid waste disposal habits of sellers in Akpan Andem market as well as the evacuation practise of Akwa Ibom State waste management agency has not been studied to the best of the researcher’s knowledge.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the impact of Environmental Hygiene and Health Status of Traders in Akpan Andem Market, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To assess the availability of sanitation facilities and its effect on health status of traders;
- To examine how can regular disposal of waste can affect the health status; and
- To examine the availability of regular water supply and its impacts on health status Akpan Andem Market.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Are there any relationship between the quality of environmental health and quality of health of the people in the study area?
- 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?
- What are the cause and the effect of poor environmental hygiene in market place and the danger to the health of traders?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant relationship between the quality of environmental hygiene and quality of health of the traders in the study area
- H1: There is significant relationship between the quality of environmental hygiene and quality of health of the traders in the study area
Hypothesis Two
- H0: Poor environmental hygiene condition does not affect the health of the traders residing in the area under review
- H1: Poor environmental hygiene condition affects the health of the traders residing in the area under review
1.7 Significance of Study
The study will serve as a reference point to the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Akwa Ibom State Refuse Management and Sanitation Board 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 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 findings of this research will 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. It 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.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Environmental Hygiene and Health Status of Traders using Akpan Andem market in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State as a case study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
- Lack of Initial Cooperation from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.
1.10 Definition of Terms
Environmental Hygiene:
It encompasses effective cleaning of surfaces using decontamination of medical equipment, appropriate products, and devices used in patient-care procedures, safe and appropriate handling of sharps, blood and body fluid spills, waste and linen.
Health:
It is a state of physical, mental and social well-being in which disease and infirmity are absent
Sanitation:
It refers to public health conditions related to clean drinking water and adequate treatment and disposal of human excreta and sewage.
Environmental Sanitation:
It is the art of keeping our surrounding clean and control of all sources and factors that can aid the spread of diseases.
