Picking Waste, Discarding Health? Awotan Waste Pickers’ Health Perceptions And Practices In Ibadan city.

Urban waste picking is assuming more visibility in the Nigerian informal economy with itswaste to wealth potential. A growing body of literature identifies this activity as a viablesource of income which leaves pickers vulnerable to health hazards inspite of little formalrecognition by the state. Although persistent forays into this as a livelihood activitycontinues, more research is needed to properly understand the social dimensions of this issue.The study examined waste pickers risk perceptions, safety practices and public attitudes atwork at Awotan landfill in Ibadan. Primary data was collected through questionnairesadministered to 81 active pickers on site. Data was analyzed using inferential statistics.Results indicate that most pickers had at least a primary school level of education. There weretwice as more males than females. More than 70% indicated the most prevalent healthproblem encountered at work were serious punctures and injuries from sharp objects followedby diarrhoeal and typhoid infections. 88% felt that their work type impacted on their health inhazardous ways such as snake bites and stings, falls and slips and held strong perceptionsabout the work-health implications for illnesses. Hospital waste was the most feared due to itsassociation with probable blood infections from used needles, blood/body waste. Publicattitudes to pickers while working was often negative. There is a very high risk of exposure topathogens at work and study results may inform health policy on direct points of interventionfor workers amidst continued interaction with waste