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Occupational Hazards Associated with Pig Production in Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Nigeria

Ukam Victor Efut, and Osang Philip Ofre,

Abstract

The study examined occupational hazards common among pig farmers and workers in the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Nigeria. The research was guided with four research purposes and questions, and three hypotheses. Survey design was adopted and farm owners, workers and farm owners’ families constituted the population for the study. A sample of hundred and twenty (120) respondents was drawn from the seven local government areas that formed the study area, and were administered questionnaire items. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential analyses, including chi-squares tests and independent sample t-tests at 0.05 level of significance. The result revealed the socioeconomic characteristics, common associated hazards and health problems experience by the respondents. Economically exposed respondents lost greatly more income due to illness less than their non-exposed counterparts (t = 5.87, p<0.05). Significantly safety training was greatly associated with Personal Protective Equipment usage (x2 =21.54, p<0.05). The study concludes that pig production in the study area poses substantial occupational health and economic risks. The research recommends among others regular training on safety and zoonosis prevention, sensitization of farmers on safe handling practices and farm hygiene, enaction of policies supporting occupational health surveillance, and establishment of rural health clinics and mobile health outreach for pig farmers.

Keywords

Occupational hazardsPig productionSouthern Senatorial DistrictFarmers and WorkersNigeria.

References

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