KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES OF TRADERS TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION PRACTICES IN OWAN WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE

Abstract
The study examined the level of knowledge of traders in Owan West Local government area on environmental sanitation practices, and determined the factors influencing traders’ attitudes towards environmental sanitation practices among traders in Owan West Local Government Area. Survey research design was adopted for this study. The sample size of the study comprises of four hundred and fifty (450) traders from four (4) markets which is in Owan West Local Government Area. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the respondent for the study. The instrument for data collection was a self-structure questionnaire which was validated by the researchers’ supervisor and two other experts in the department of Health, Safety and Environmental Education (HSE). The test-retest method of reliability was used. The instrument was administered twice to 20 traders that are not part of the study within a two week interval. Thereafter, Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to analyze the scores from the both administrations and r-value of 0.9 correlation coefficient was determined, which shows that the instrument was reliable. The data collected were analyzed with percentage and frequency. The findings of the study therefore clearly revealed among others that the level of knowledge of the traders about sanitation is high. The study recommends that there should be constant advocating for increased public sector investment in basic sanitation infrastructures that are suitable, well planned and coordinated within different markets across the State.

Keywords: Environment, Sanitation, Market, Traders, Solid Waste Management