PERCEIVED HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH CHARCOAL PRODUCTION IN SOUTHWESTERN, NIGERIA

Indiscriminate cutting of trees for charcoal production has resulted in land degradation, erosion, air pollution as well as climate change which are detrimental to human health. Therefore, this study investigated the perceived hazards associated with charcoal production in Southwestern, Nigeria. The target population for this study included all charcoal producers in Southwestern Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was utilized to select 381 respondents from the region. The study examined the socio-economic profiles of charcoal producers, explored the methods used in charcoal production, identified perceived risks involved in the production process, and investigated the strategies employed to manage these hazards. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages, means, Weighted Mean Scores (WMS), and standard deviations. Inferential statistics, including Chi-square tests and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC), were applied to test the research hypotheses. Earthen mound method of charcoal production was the most (84.25%) used method in charcoal production across the states. The hazards experienced by charcoal producers in order of importance were spinal cord disorder (WMS = 4.87), respiratory diseases (WMS = 4.8), skin and respiratory tract irritation and infection (WMS = 4.65). Unavailability of health care facilities (WMS = 4.36), unstable government policy in charcoal production, forest guard (WMS = 1.91) and unpredictability of returns from charcoal (WMS = 1.87) were constraints limiting strategies to manage the hazards. The PPMC analysis showed significant relationships between age (p = 0.050), years of formal education (p = 0.012), income from primary occupation (p = 0.021), household size (p = 0.046), years of experience in charcoal production (p = 0.041) and perceived hazards associated with charcoal production. Conclusively, charcoal production had impacted negatively on the health status of the charcoal producers. The study therefore recommended the use of appropriate safety measures to mitigate the effects of hazards associated with charcoal production.