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JOB-RELATED HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH TRAFFIC WARDEN IN PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS, RIVERS STATE

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study job-related hazards associated with traffic wardens in Port Harcourt metropolis sought to examine the physical hazards, chemical hazards, psychosocial hazards, biological hazards and the ergonomic hazards associated with traffic wardens in Port Harcourt metropolis, Rivers State. Three objectives, three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. The study was carried out in Rivers State. This study adopted a Descriptive cross-sectional survey design. The population of the study was 846 traffic wardens and the sample size was 400 respondents, comprising 280 Male Wardens and 110 Female wardens’ officers in Port Harcourt metropolis. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled “Occupational Hazards Associated with Traffic Warden”. The instrument was structured on five point likert type rating scale of Strongly agree (SA), Agree (A), Undecided (U), Disagree (D) and Strongly Disagree (SD). The instrument was subjected to face and content validation by three experts. A reliability coefficient of 0.76 was established with the aid of SPSS software. The findings reveals that traffic wardens are associated with physical hazards with a grand mean value of 3.982 and 3.983 for male and female wardens, psychosocial hazard with grand mean value of 3.955 and 3.933, biological hazards with grand mean value of 4.202 and 4.117 and ergonomic hazard with grand mean value of 4.011 and 3.992 for male and female wardens respectively. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations were made: Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) should embark on road traffic education, training and prevention of hazard, which are the best methods for managing the adverse health effects that are common among male and female traffic wardens, Ministries in charge of labour and productivity should from time to time go for inspection of male and female traffic wardens on duties and ascertain the hazards that are prevalent to them and adopt proper preventive measures and suggestion for further studies were also made. Keywords: Job-related hazards, traffic wardens.

SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC DETERMINANTS OF OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS AMONG TAXI DRIVERS IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigates the socio-demographic determinants of occupational hazards among taxi drivers in Rivers State, Nigeria. The objectives were to examine the influence of age, work experience, and educational status on the prevalence of occupational hazards. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed, involving 600 taxi drivers selected through multi-stage sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean scores, and ANOVA. The findings revealed that occupational hazards were more prevalent among older drivers (31-40 years: 58.4%, >40 years: 71.4%), those with 6-9 years of experience (71.0%), and drivers with no formal education (84.6%). Significant differences were found in the prevalence of hazards based on age, work experience, and educational status. The study concludes that targeted safety interventions and educational programs are essential to mitigate occupational hazards, particularly for older, mid-career, and less-educated taxi drivers in Rivers State. Keywords: socio-demographic determinants, occupational hazard, taxi drivers

EVALUATING GENDER AS A DETERMINANT OF KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS SUICIDE AMONG UNDERGRADUATE IN BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Abstract Suicide is a leading cause of death both globally, regionally and locally, with over 75% occurring in low-and middle-income Countries. This study evaluated gender as a determinant of knowledge and attitude towards suicide among Undergraduates in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. This study adopted the descriptive survey research design being that information is obtained through distribution of a questionnaire to undergraduate students in six tertiary institutions in Bayelsa State which includes; Federal University of Otuoke, Niger Delta University (NDU) Wilberforce Island, University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa State College of Arts and Science, Elebele and Bayelsa State Medical University. Also participants were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria set for the study. This design has been successfully utilized by Arnautovska, and Grad (2010) in a study on attitudes towards suicide in the adolescent population. As at the time of the study, the population of this study consists of all undergraduate students of universities in Bayelsa State. Using the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) table for sample size estimation. A total of 381 respondents were selected to participate in the study. But for the purpose of clarity and better representation of the total population the researcher employed 800 respondents to participate in the study. A self designed questionnaire was used for primary data collection. The data gathered was coded and analyzed through the Statistical Product for Service Solution (SPSS) version 25.0 and was presented on tables charts. The findings revealed that there was a significant difference in the knowledge of suicide among undergraduate in Bayelsa State based on gender (p-value = .000, p<0.05). The findings revealed that there was a significant difference in the attitude towards suicidal ideation among undergraduates in Bayelsa State based on gender (p-value = .000, p<0.05). Conclusions emerged this study that there was a significant deference in the knowledge of suicide based on gender, as well as a significant deference in the attitude towards suicidal ideation among undergraduates in Bayelsa State based on gender. Among others, the study recommended that the ministry of education at all levels (primary, secondary, and tertiary) should develop and implement educational programs aimed at increasing awareness about suicide prevention. These programs should focus on providing accurate information and dispelling myths surrounding suicide. Key Words: Gender, Determinant, Knowledge, Attitude, Suicide, Undergraduate, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.