|
PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Indiscriminate disposal of waste poses huge health problems. The study therefore looked at the level of awareness and identified factors responsible for improper disposal of wastes in Jos and Bukuru metropolis, Plateau State, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 165 respondents. Percentages, frequencies, tables, bar chart and histograms were employed for data analysis. Statistical analysis of the data shows household waste form the bulk of the waste generated in Jos and Bukuru metropolis as stated by 44.3% of the respondents, followed by market waste with 13.6% of the respondents and waste generated from restaurants/food vendor’s had the least of 0.7% respondents. The study further indicated that 76.5% of the respondents were not aware of the presence or existence of any government waste management agency, while 23.5% were. 44% of respondents affirmed that people dispose waste indiscriminately. Other factors associated with indiscriminate waste disposal are human and animal scavengers with 1.9% of the respondents. 88.4% were aware of the dangers of indiscriminate waste disposal while 10.4% were not. Indiscriminate waste disposal was indicated to cause diseases by 56% of the respondents, while 31% indicated that it could cause harm to man, animals and the entire environment. Almost all respondents affirmed that indiscriminate waste disposal was a common public health concern. The study confirmed that indiscriminate waste disposal is an important factor in ill health as could be exemplified by the reported cases of cholera outbreak and the endemic nature of typhoid fever in Jos and Bukuru metropolis. For proper and adequate disposal of wastes, the study suggests public enlightenment campaigns aimed at helping people change their attitude on disposal of waste and that government should employ more sanitary inspectors and enforce laws to curb indiscriminate waste disposal by citizens.