Public Health and Food Safety Risks of Rodent Infestation and the Effectiveness of Pest Control Measures Among Restaurants in Obio/Akpor, Rivers State, Nigeria

Gospel Chimenma Dimkpa; Ogboeli Goodluck Prince; Priscilia Nyekpunwo Ogbonda; Cookeygam Idawarifa Frank; Elechi Sabinus Ordu; Dominic Joshua Osondu

doi:10.56201/jhmtr.vol.7no3.2026pg81.94

Public Health and Food Safety Risks of Rodent Infestation and the Effectiveness of Pest Control Measures Among Restaurants in Obio/Akpor, Rivers State, Nigeria

Gospel Chimenma Dimkpa, Ogboeli Goodluck Prince, Priscilia Nyekpunwo Ogbonda, Cookeygam Idawarifa Frank, Elechi Sabinus Ordu, Dominic Joshua Osondu

Abstract

Rodent infestation in restaurants constitutes an important public health and food-safety concern because rodents can contaminate food, food-contact surfaces and storage areas, while poor sanitation, waste management, food storage and structural deficiencies may facilitate their survival and spread. This study assessed the public health and food safety risks of rodent infestation and the effectiveness of pest control measures among restaurants in Obio/Akpor, Rivers State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted. A minimum sample size of 384 was determined using Cochran’s formula, with a 10% allowance for non-response. A multistage sampling technique was used to select participants. Data were collected from restaurant owners, managers and food handlers using a structured questionnaire and observational checklist. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used for data analysis, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Of the 409 respondents/restaurants assessed, 254 (62.1%) showed evidence of rodent infestation. The predominant indicators were rodent droppings (56.5%), gnaw marks (48.4%), rodent sightings (43.0%), damaged food containers (40.8%) and food contamination (35.0%). Major environmental conditions facilitating infestation included accessible food sources (66.7%), food-storage defects (62.1%), accessible refuse (60.6%), structural entry points (57.7%) and poor housekeeping (56.0%). All assessed environmental and sanitation factors were significantly associated with rodent infestation (p < 0.001), with poor waste management recording the highest Chi-square value (χ2 = 42.87). Infestation was highest among bukaterias (72.3%) and local restaurants (68.1%), while geographical zone showed no significant association (χ2 = 3.84, p = 0.279). The findings indicate that rodent infestation is a substantial food-safety concern and is strongly influenced by modifiable environmental and operational conditions. The study concludes that integrated pest management is necessary. Restaurants should strengthen sanitation, waste disposal, food storage, structural exclusion, routine monitoring and professional pest-control practices, while environmental health authorities should intensify inspection, enforcement and food-safety training.

Keywords

Rodent infestationPublic healthFood safetyPest control measuresRestaurantsFood contaminationEnvironmental sanitationRodent-borne diseasesHygiene practices.

References

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Public Health and Food Safety Risks of Rodent Infestation and the Effectiveness of Pest Control Measures Among Restaurants in Obio/Akpor, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Keywords

References

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