AWARENESS, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS INDOOR AIR POLLUTION (IAP) AMONGST RESIDENTS OF OKE – OYI IN ILORIN

Abstract

Poor air quality has impact on health, especially on the poor, the elderly and children who suffer disproportionately from its effects. Air pollution also has impact far beyond each household as pollution is found on crops and contributes to global environmental issues such as climate change. Air pollution is thus a threat to human health, the environment and the quality of life of millions of Africans. This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted to determine awareness, attitude and practices of residents of Oke – Oyi, a rural settlement in Kwara State, Nigeria towards Indoor Air Pollution (IAP). The 384 respondents interviewed were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data collection was by both quantitative and qualitative methods specifically using an interviewer administered questionnaire and an observational checklist. The result showed that 83.9% of the respondents were aware of IAP and their major sources of information were health workers (40.2%), teachers (33%) and the mass media (23.1%) (Radio/TV). Eighty one point three percent (81.3%) of respondents were aware of the hazards associated with IAP. Commonly known indoor air pollutants include cooking in the sleeping areas (77.9%), filthy environment (73.4%), overcrowding (70.1%) and use of mosquito coils (65.6%). A significant relationship was found between age and ethnicity of respondents and their attitudes towards indoor air pollution. Respondents were also observed to have poor practices. Hence, there is need for widespread campaigns in order to raise awareness among the community members about indoor air pollution and its effects to compliment their attitude and practices.