Page 78 - IJPS-7-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Traders’ KAP toward solid waste disposal in Nigeria

world, inadequate waste collection and disposal facilitate indiscriminate dumping. In essence, perceptions are said
the multiplication of disease pathogens and provide to be learned attributes and can, therefore, be modified
breeding channels for disease vectors (Chengula et al., 2015). through education for proper knowledge acquisition
Globally, 2.6 billion people lack access to proper sanitation. (Chengula et al., 2015). In another instance, the level of
The world generates 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid education of individuals has played a role in their ability to
waste annually with this figure projected to double by 2050 comprehend relevant details about their environmental and
with the current trends (World Bank, 2022). These numbers how to preserve its structures. Chengula et al. (2015) found
have been projected to increase to 3.4 billion tonnes by 2050 that the perceptions and attitudes of a significant number
(Agbefe et al., 2019). Increased generation of solid wastes of persons override their knowledge of population health
is triggered by increasing urbanization, population growth in such a way that these persons would not partake in the
in major cities, change in food consumption patterns, and cleaning of their environments due to the perceptions that
improvement in the wealth quartiles of some nations (Agbefe the municipal council bore that responsibility.
et al., 2019). The disposal of solid wastes in developing nations Markets are important centers of the economic
has continually posed a threat to the health and quality of landscape of every nation as they serve as locations for not
life of the human population due to the non-existence of only commodity exchange but for information sharing,
organized waste disposal facilities, culture, and technology health education, health promotion, traffic generation, and
that are determined largely by financial constraints. Sub- other forms of social interactions. Due to the increasing
Saharan Africa generates about 62 million tonnes of solid population in urban enclaves and a proportionate increase
waste annually, a serious issue that implicates several factors, in the market population, waste generation around the
chief among them being a lack of political will (Chinedu et al., markets is inevitable (Worlanyo, 2013). However, the
2018). Because the increased human population has been handing of solid wastes in and around markets has posed a
implicated severally in the generation of solid wastes, the threat to human health and the environment as the market
United Nations Habitat Watch opined that this problem may remains a vulnerable structure with the convergence of
escalate beyond what it is, as Africa’s population is projected many individuals, attracting significantly large gatherings
to more than triple over the next 4 decades (Bakare, 2021). of sellers and buyers. The poor handling of waste in many
The United Nations Habitat (2022) stated that municipal markets across Nigeria may be due to poor knowledge of
solid wastes make the cities unattractive to investors as well solid waste disposal and a lack of educational programs
as causing flooding, water, and air pollution, and many to modify traders’ attitudes toward favorable sanitation
health conditions. This will cause the slow achievement of practices (Iwu et al., 2016). Formal education emerging
the United Nation Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-17 from different levels can aid good understanding of proper
aimed at sustaining cities and communities. waste management practices (Chengula et al., 2015).
In Nigeria, waste generation rates amount to In essence, it is imperative that a complex waste
0.65 – 0.95 kg/capita/day with a mean of 42 million tonnes management strategy that bridges identified gaps in
of solid waste generated every year (Chinedu et al., 2018). knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) toward traders’
These high volumes of solid wastes have overwhelmed waste disposal process is critically important. There is a
many cities’ waste collection structures and have defied paucity of studies on the KAP of market traders in the ever-
many solutions while only 20 – 30% are collected (Bakare, busy Calabar. To the best of our knowledge, this present
2021; Sunday, 2013). The collection of wastes in the country study is the first to conduct KAP among traders regarding
has been monopolized by state/province actors who possess solid waste management in the study area while studying
limited capacity to handle the waste management problems demographic correlations of these outcomes.
in their respective cities (Chinedu et al., 2018). In addition, Accordingly, this study aimed to assess market traders’
the lack of knowledge and awareness among the general KAP toward solid waste disposal in the ever-busy markets
public on waste management has also played a role in the in Calabar Municipality, Nigeria. We also hypothesized
problem of indiscriminate waste disposal from commercial that there was no statistically significant relationship
sources in Nigeria. In a Nigerian study, it was found that between sociodemographic characteristics and KAP of the
despite the high knowledge level of market traders toward study’s respondents.
market sanitation (62.8%), there were still poor practices
of open dumping and other forms of indiscriminate 2. Methods
dumping of market wastes (Abejegah et al., 2013). This,
however, is perceived to be a function of poor knowledge 2.1. Data sources
of available waste disposal systems in the surrounding The study was conducted among traders in markets in
and poor attitude or perceptions of market traders toward Calabar Municipality Local Government Area, Cross

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2021) 72 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.v7i2.307