Market In Ibadan Research Articles

Linguistic Landscape as a Tool for Promoting Sales: A Study of Three Selected Markets in Ibadan, South West Nigeria

This work discusses the roles of Linguistic Landscape in promoting sales. This sociolinguistic phenomenon has been deployed knowingly or unknowingly as a marketing strategy. Marketers most especially use this tool to attract customers to buy their products. The thrust of this work is to examine how linguistic landscape is used to promote sales of goods and services. Data for this work were collected from sign posts and the billboards in the three selected markets within Ibadan metropolis (Bodija, Alesinloye and Dugbe). Fifty sign posts and fifty billboards were used for the data. People were also interviewed to know their reaction to this marketing strategy. The work reveals that people react positively to this marketing strategy because it attracts people’s attention to the products. However, not all those that were interviewed reacted positively to it. Some claimed that it is often ambiguous and makes it difficult for them to understand. This work also reveals that the use of linguistic landscape as a marketing strategy belongs to bottom-up classification. We also discovered that in an attempt to use this phenomenon as a marketing strategy, both the official and the dominant languages in the studied areas were used.

Effects of processing methods on nutrient and antinutrient composition of yellow yam (Dioscorea cayenensis) products

There is dearth of documented information on nutrient retention of Dioscorea cayenensis products. This study was carried out to evaluate effects of processing methods on nutrient and antinutrient retention of yellow yam products. Fresh Dioscorea cayenensis tubers were purchased from Bodija market in Ibadan, peeled, cut into small pieces, divided into nine portions. One portion was treated as raw sample, and others processed into local delicacies. All nine samples were analysed for proximate, mineral, vitamin and antinutrient composition using AOAC methods. Data were analysed using ANOVA at p=0.05. Raw yam contained 66.79g moisture, 2.62g crude protein, 0.27g lipid, 0.17g fibre, 0.63g ash, 29.69g carbohydrates, 262.30mg potassium, 61.53mg magnesium, 0.79mg iron, 0.39mg zinc, and yielded 108.26kcal energy with insignificant vitamin content/100g edible portion. Processing significantly improved macronutrients and energy content with significant reduction in all antinutrients of products (p<0.05). The yam products can serve as staple source of energy to consumers.

Analytical study of supply chain collaboration guiding forestry products supply in a developing economy

This research is an empirical assessment of wood products supply chain in a developing economy using Bodija wood market in Ibadan, Nigeria as case study. The study examined the nature of supply chain collaboration employed by the operators to achieve their business objectives and the roles played by extant government rules guiding SC of wood products. The study is based on a randomly selected set of 147 constituents of the SC. Two hypotheses were tested in the study, evidence from the study shows that supply chain relationship is positively influenced by reduction in operational costs and higher levels of customer's relationship. Further analysis shows that extant governmental policies have significant influence on supply chain performance (SCP). Policies on taxation, and forest management techniques have strong influence on achievement of benefits of the chain. The paper suggests tangible business and policy measures for the development of wood products SC in Nigeria.

Analytical study of supply chain collaboration guiding forestry products supply in a developing economy

This research is an empirical assessment of wood products supply chain in a developing economy using Bodija wood market in Ibadan, Nigeria as case study. The study examined the nature of supply chain collaboration employed by the operators to achieve their business objectives and the roles played by extant government rules guiding SC of wood products. The study is based on a randomly selected set of 147 constituents of the SC. Two hypotheses were tested in the study, evidence from the study shows that supply chain relationship is positively influenced by reduction in operational costs and higher levels of customer's relationship. Further analysis shows that extant governmental policies have significant influence on supply chain performance (SCP). Policies on taxation, and forest management techniques have strong influence on achievement of benefits of the chain. The paper suggests tangible business and policy measures for the development of wood products SC in Nigeria.

Assessment of Selected Food Products for Pesticide Residue in Major Markets of Oyo State, Nigeria

A study was carried out on the assessment of selected food produce for pesticide residue in Oyo State. With the aid of multi stage sampling technique, 8 selected markets were surveyed in the major constituencies of Oyo State which included Oje and Bodija Market in Ibadan, Arada and Sabo Markets in Ogbomoso, Ajegunle and Araromi Market in Oyo, Owode and Sango Markets in Igboho and Saki respectively in Oke-Ogun. Information on type of pesticide use, reason for choosing the pesticide, method of applying the pesticide and duration of post application storage, were collected. Food produce sampled were yam chips, cowpea, maize and smoked fish for residual analysis. The residual analysis includes extraction of samples, cleaning of extraction and screening of the pesticide using GC-MS to detect any chemical metabolites. The survey reveals that majority (87.5%) of respondents were involved in selling of maize, yam chips and cowpea and the most used pesticide in the market was Aluminium phosphide marketed as phostoxin. Many of respondents applied pesticide by fumigation and the choice of these pesticides was base on customary practices. These food produce are stored for less than a month before being disposed of to consumers. Result from residual analysis shows sample from all the markets contains high percentage of alkane compounds especially the heptadecanes, eicosane, hexadecane and octadecane. Organochlorines were also found in the samples at high percentage. Banned pesticides are still in use in the visited markets and the use of banned pesticide should be prohibited and extension scheme on the use of pesticide on stored produce should be sponsored by government. This will help educate pesticide users on the use of pesticides and its health implications. Consumers are also implored to wash their food very well before consumption so as to remove pesticides that may be present on the seed coat or surface of food produce.

Assessment of Selected Food Products for Pesticide Residue in Major Markets of Oyo State, Nigeria

A study was carried out on the assessment of selected food produce for pesticide residue in Oyo State. With the aid of multi stage sampling technique, 8 selected markets were surveyed in the major constituencies of Oyo State which included Oje and Bodija Market in Ibadan, Arada and Sabo Markets in Ogbomoso, Ajegunle and Araromi Market in Oyo, Owode and Sango Markets in Igboho and Saki respectively in Oke-Ogun. Information on type of pesticide use, reason for choosing the pesticide, method of applying the pesticide and duration of post application storage, were collected. Food produce sampled were yam chips, cowpea, maize and smoked fish for residual analysis. The residual analysis includes extraction of samples, cleaning of extraction and screening of the pesticide using GC-MS to detect any chemical metabolites. The survey reveals that majority (87.5%) of respondents were involved in selling of maize, yam chips and cowpea and the most used pesticide in the market was Aluminium phosphide marketed as phostoxin. Many of respondents applied pesticide by fumigation and the choice of these pesticides was base on customary practices. These food produce are stored for less than a month before being disposed of to consumers. Result from residual analysis shows sample from all the markets contains high percentage of alkane compounds especially the heptadecanes, eicosane, hexadecane and octadecane. Organochlorines were also found in the samples at high percentage. Banned pesticides are still in use in the visited markets and the use of banned pesticide should be prohibited and extension scheme on the use of pesticide on stored produce should be sponsored by government. This will help educate pesticide users on the use of pesticides and its health implications. Consumers are also implored to wash their food very well before consumption so as to remove pesticides that may be present on the seed coat or surface of food produce.

Quality Attributes, Chemical and Microbial Safety of Street-Vended Smoked West Africa Ilisha (&lt;i&gt;Ilisha africana&lt;/i&gt;) from Major Markets in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to assess the quality and safety of street-vended smoked West African Ilisha fish from major markets in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Fifty smoked fish samples were collected from ten major markets in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria and the samples were analyzed in the laboratory for proximate, quality and rancidity indices (PV, TBA, TVB-N, TMA and FFA), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), heavy metals and microbiological (coliform, fungi, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella paratyphi and Staphylococcus aureus ) analyses. The results revealed that the mean moisture, protein, fat, crude fibre, ash and carbohydrate contents (%) of smoked fish samples were 11.35-15.18, 52.13-60.22, 11.56-16.13, 1.74-2.52, 1.12-1.54 and 9.53-16.25 respectively. The values of PV, TBA, TVB-N, TMA and FFA of smoked fish samples were 8.96-9.18 meq.peroxide/kg, 1.13-1.62, 1.04-1.16 mg Mol/kg, 17.29-19.36 mgN/kg and 2.15-2.68 mgN/kg respectively. The results also revealed the presence of sixteen (16) PAHs compounds in the smoke fish samples. However, ten of the sixteen PAHs compounds were above the 5.0 μg /kg B(α)P maximum permissible levels set by EU Regulation 1881/2006. The concentrations of Hg, Pb, Cd, and Cr in the smoked fish samples showed that quantities detected were generally below the maximum permissible levels and hence pose no risk to consumers. The results of microbiological analysis indicated the presence of Staphyloccoccus aureus in the smoked fish samples which may be due to post-processing handling. In conclusion, the study revealed that consumption of street-vended smoked fish may expose consumers to chemical and microbiological risks .

Heavy Metals and Antibiotics Susceptibility Profiles of &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Staphylococcus aureus&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; Isolated from Several Points Receiving Daily Input from the Bodija Abattoir in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Indiscriminate and unguided discharge of untreated wastewater especially from abattoirs can constitute a public health threat and also stimulate the onset of co-resistance to metal and antibiotics in environmental microorganisms. It has been shown that microorganisms especially bacteria that have the capacity to resist antibiotics and heavy metals, may constitute a public health threat. This study was therefore conducted to determine the susceptibility and tolerance profile of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from abattoir effluent flowing into a receiving river around Bodija market in Ibadan to a range of antibiotics and heavy metals. Ten points were selected for sampling, and the samples were cultured on nutrient agar and mannitol salt agar. A total of 22 Staphylococcus aureus strains were obtained. They were subjected to increasing concentration of six heavy metals [lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni)] and five antibiotics. Of the total isolates, 41% were resistant to all the six metals at 1500μg/ml concentration, while the others showed various degree of resistance. A percentage resistance of 22.7% was observed for tetracycline, 100% to ceftazidime, 9.1% to ciprofloxacin and vancomycin while 63.6% of the strains were resistant to oxacillin. All the strains but two showed resistance to all the metals tested, while multiple resistance to antibiotics was also observed. Further studies need to be carried out on the mechanisms of resistance of these strains.

Circulation of the low pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N2 virus in ducks at a live bird market in Ibadan, Nigeria.

BackgroundTo monitor carrier hosts of avian influenza in Nigeria, we randomly collected cloaca swab specimens from 155 ducks at a live bird market (LBM) in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria, between July 2011 and July 2012.MethodsThe samples were analyzed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and virus isolation was carried out in embryonated chicken eggs. Partial sequencing of the antigenic cleavage site of the haemagglutinin (HA) gene was performed, multiple sequence alignment was carried out using ClustalW, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed using the neighbor joining method.ResultsTwenty (13%) of the 155 samples were positive for avian influenza subtype H5N2 by real-time RT-PCR and three isolates were obtained from embryonated chicken eggs. Partial sequencing of the amino acid cleavage site of the HA genes of two isolates corresponded to a PQRETGL*F sequence that is common in low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI). Phylogenetically, the HA genes of the two influenza viruses are monophyletic and clustered with H5N2 viruses detected in wild ducks from Africa.ConclusionThe occurrence of LPAI in domestic ducks in Nigeria underscores the importance of continuous surveillance and monitoring of the virus (in a country that is considered to be free of avian influenza) in order to prevent the emergence of virulent strains that may spread to commercial poultry and humans.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2049-9957-3-38) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Contamination and Critical Control Points (CCPs) along the processing line of sale of frozen poultry foods in retail outlets of a typical market in Ibadan, Nigeria

Aim: Over the years, there have been considerable increases in the consumption of frozen poultry foods across Nigeria. Little attention has been paid to the microbial quality of these foods and hence constitutes a threat to public health. The contamination levels (Enterobacteriaceae and Listeria counts) and the presence of pathogenic E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria along the processing line of sale of frozen poultry foods were assayed in retail outlets. Methodology and results: Bacteriological counts and bacterial isolation were carried out using standard plate methods, while the direct slide agglutination technique was utilized for serology. Bacteriological assay revealed extremely high counts (Listeria count (LC): 7.784±1.109 - 9.586±0.016 log cfu/cm 2 ; Enterobacteriaceae count (EC): 7.151±0.213 9.318±0.161 log cfu/cm 2 ), higher than stipulated by International Food Standard Agencies. The highest count for EC (9.318±0.161 log cfu/cm 2 ) and LC 9.586±0.016 log cfu/cm 2 ) was from the weighing scale and processing table. Averagely, LC (8.598±0.733 log cfu/cm 2 ) was higher than EC (8.145±0.936 log cfu/cm 2 ). Weighing scale had counts significantly different (p < 0.05) from all others for EC. But there were no significant differences in LC. Weighing scale and meat tables were critical control points (CCPs) in the processing line for sale of frozen poultry meats in the retail outlets. E. coli spp., E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Salmonella Enteritidis, Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes were isolated along the processing line. Conclusion, significance and impact of the study: Results of this study indicated that poultry meat are easily contaminated along the processing line of sale and may act as a potential risk to public health if counteractive measures are not applied to reduce microbial contamination during storage, sale and distribution to consumers.

English

&nbsp; Isolation of multidrug resistant&nbsp;Escherichia coli&nbsp;from diseased livestock is becoming rampart from samples submitted for disease diagnostic purposes in some Tertiary Veterinary Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria. In order to evaluate the possible roles of commensal&nbsp;E. coli&nbsp;from apparently healthy animals in the epidemiology of drug resistant pathogens, antibiotic resistance status of 240&nbsp;E. coli&nbsp;isolated from 300 rectal swab from apparently healthy cattle from a major cattle market in Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria (a location very close to two of the Veterinary Teaching Hospitals), were grown aerobically at breakpoint concentration&nbsp;&nbsp;for ciprofloxacin, cefepime, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, ampicillin, kanamycin, streptomycin and nalidixic acid (all obtained from SIGMA-ALDRICH) according to standard method by Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute. A very high level of resistance was observed in all the antibiotics studied, with the highest resistance of 97% for kanamycin and 96.7, 95.8, 73.8, 72.5, 61.7, 56.3 and 51.3% for ampicillin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, cefepime, nalidixic acid, streptomycin and ciprofloxacin, respectively. The high resistance observed in the commensal&nbsp;E. coli&nbsp;could be attributed to antibiotic selective pressure due to often abuse/misuse of the drugs on the cattle. The findings in this work are of public health importance because these multidrug resistant&nbsp;E. coli&nbsp;can transmit resistance to other pathogenic bacteria of livestock and human pathogen. &nbsp; Key words:&nbsp;Antimicrobial, resistance, healthy cattle, isolated.

Nutrient composition and contribution of plantain (Musa paradisiacea) products to dietary diversity of Nigerian consumers

Some plantain ( Musa paradisiacea ) products, which serve as dietary staple in Nigeria were studied for their nutrient composition and contribution to dietary diversification of consumers. Unripe plantain was purchased from Oje market in Ibadan, Nigeria. Proximate, mineral and vitamin composition of raw, sundried, fermented, boiled and roasted samples were determined using standard methods of analyses of AOAC, atomic absorption spectrophotometric and spectrophotometric methods respectively. The results of analyses revealed that unripe plantain contained 59.4 g moisture, 7.7 g crude protein, 1.5 g ash, 1.4 g crude fibre, 24.4 g carbohydrates, 80 mg sodium, 120 mg potassium, 66.6 mg calcium, 275 mg magnesium, 195 mg phosphorus, 2.53 mg iron, 3.7 mg zinc, and yielded 128.6 kcal of energy/100 g sample. Sun drying, fermentation, boiling and roasting significantly improved the crude lipid, ash, crude fibre, carbohydrate, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus contents of the products (p < 0.05). The low sodium content of the products makes them suitable for the hypertensive, and the low carbohydrate content coupled with relatively high energy make them suitable for consumption by the diabetics. 100 g of plantain products can contribute between 6.3 to 15.3% energy, 5.9 to 30.2% protein, 7.8 to 16% calcium, 9.2 to 23.3% iron, and 28.5 to 33.7% zinc to percent Recommended Dietary Allowances (%RDAs) of consumers. Key words : Nutrient composition, nutrient contribution, plantain, dietary diversity.

The influence of gender and group membership on food safety: the case of meat sellers in Bodija market, Ibadan, Nigeria

We describe a study to assess the bacteriological quality and safety of meat in Bodija market in Ibadan and to investigate the influence of gender and group membership on food safety. Mixed methods were used to gather information on meat safety and related socioeconomic factors. These methods included a participatory urban appraisal, focus group discussions with eight butchers' associations, in depth discussions with six key informants, a questionnaire study of 269 meat sellers and a cross-sectional survey of meat quality (200 samples from ten associations). We found that slaughter, processing and sale of beef meat take place under unhygienic conditions. The activities involve both men and women, with some task differentiation by gender. Meat sold by association members is of unacceptable quality. However, some groups have consistently better quality meat and this is positively correlated with the proportion of women members. Women also have significantly better food safety practice than men, though there was no significant difference in their knowledge of and attitude towards food safety. Most meat sellers (85 %) reported being ill in the last 2 weeks and 47 % reported experiencing gastrointestinal illness. Eating beef, eating chicken, eating offal, consuming one's own products and belonging to a group with poor quality of meat were all strong and significant predictors of self-reported gastrointestinal illness. We include that gender and group membership influence meat quality and self-reported gastrointestinal illness and that butchers' associations are promising entry points for interventions to improve food safety.

Effects of processing methods on nutrient retention and contribution of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) products to nutritional intake of Nigerians

Consumption of indigenous foods is being encouraged globally as a means of meeting dietary needs of people. Yam products constitute staple source of energy to many Nigerians but little is documented on their nutrient composition. This study was carried out to determine the effects of processing methods on nutrient retention and possible contribution of some diets prepared from yam to nutrient intake of consumers. Fresh yam tubers were purchased from Sango market in Ibadan, peeled and cut into small pieces, then divided to eight portions. One portion was treated as raw sample while others were processed into roasted, fried, boiled, pounded yam (two samples), amala and porridge. All samples were analysed for proximate, energy and mineral composition using standard methods of AOAC and atomic absorption spectrophotometric methods. Raw yam was very low in crude protein (2.3 g), lipid (0.8 g), and fibre (1.4 g) moderate in ash (3.4 g), iron (4.1 mg) and zinc (5.6 mg), high in carbohydrates (33.3 g), energy (369.6 kcal), sodium (580 mg) and potassium (470 mg) /100 g edible portion. Roasting and frying brought significant improvement on crude protein, lipid and energy content of the products (p<0.05). Boiling yam caused significant reduction in all nutrient content except fibre, while boiling and pounding yam significantly improved its crude lipid, ash and energy content (p<0.05). Frying and using water for boiling yam in pounded yam preparation brought significant retention of nutrients in yam. Processing yam to amala and porridge resulted in significant improvement in nutrient content of the diets. Diets from yam can serve as good source of energy and minerals, and their 100 g portion can contribute between 12.4 to 20.9% gross energy, 11.0 to 46.0% iron and 17.3 to 48.7% zinc to recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) of consumers.

Molecular epidemiology of human and animal tuberculosis in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria

From 2005 to 2007, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) strains were isolated from cattle, goats and pigs samples collected at the Bodija abattoir and from human samples from tuberculosis patients and livestock traders at the Akinyele cattle market in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria. Seventy four isolates obtained from humans (24) and livestock (50) were identified as MTC strains. Thirty two isolates were spoligotyped. Nineteen of these 32 isolates were identified as M. tuberculosis whilst 13 were identified as Mycobacterium bovis. M. bovis was isolated from two humans, whereas M. tuberculosis was isolated from a bovine, a pig and a goat. All the M. bovis isolates identified in this study belonged to the Africa 1 clonal complex. Multiple locus VNTR [variable number of tandem repeats] analysis (MLVA) was carried out on the 74 isolates. Three major clusters were defined. Group A consisted of 24 M. tuberculosis isolates (MLVA genotypes 1–18). One strain was isolated from a bovine and one from a pig. Group B consisted of 49 M. bovis strains (MLVA genotypes 19–48), mainly of cattle origin but also included four goat, nine pig and two human isolates. Group C consisted of a single M. tuberculosis isolate (MLVA genotype 49) obtained from a goat. Spoligotyping and MLVA confirmed it as clustering with the East Africa Indian clade found in humans in Sudan and the Republic of Djibouti. The isolation of three M. tuberculosis strains from livestock raises the question of their epidemiological importance as a source of infection for humans.

Transport Institutions in Nigeria’s Livestock Trade: A case study of Bodija Cattle Market, Ibadan

Using a qualitative method, this paper analyses the institutions in Nigeria’s livestock trade which enable an understanding of the actors and the nature of their interactions in the transportation of cattle from centres of production to the final consumers, using the Bodija cattle market in Ibadan as the case study. This paper is viewed within Alonso’s General Theory of Movement, and by extension, Ullman’s bases for spatial interaction. Fixed routes are followed in a north-south direction, with extraneous time consuming and quite often risky overland doverage of the earliest stages of movement, through railway carriage, though not without hitches. The road transport has dominated the movement of cattle in Nigeria, often by the private sector, not without its attendant problems though. Information was collected from the leaders in cattle marketing and transportation, noting especially the ethnicity and gender relations. The data collection involved group interviews, direct observations and extraction of relevant information from published sources. The findings show that formal and inform-al actors are involved in ;cattle transportation business. The movement of cattle to Akinyele was from the northern states. The choice of the market by cattle dealers largely depends on prices at various source markets, easy in availability of transport, and varieties of cattle species in demand. The availability of mobile phones h.as facilitated the exchange of information. Transportation is largely arranged through Yan Kwammssion (commissioned agents), and transport costs vary in proportion to the distance travelled.

Hearing impairment among mill workers in small scale enterprises in southwest Nigeria

This cross-sectional study was conducted among mill workers in a large market in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria. These workers are engaged in small scale businesses with little or no regulation of work exposures. Questionnaires administered to mill workers sought information on personal characteristics, length of time engaged in the job, type of milling done and symptoms of hearing impairment. Noise exposure and hearing impairment were assessed among 85 mill workers. Audiometry was done on mill workers and 45 controls with no known exposure to noise and no history of aural disease. Noise levels at work stations ranged from 88-90dB for small mills and 101-105 for larger mills. None of the workers used hearing protection. Analysis based on total number of ears showed that 56% of the workers had hearing impairment ranging from mild (49%) moderate (6.4%) to severe (0.6%) whilst 33% of the controls had hearing impairment which was mild (26%), moderate (7%) and no severe losses, P = 0.001. There was no association between age and hearing impairment but prevalence of hearing impairment was highest among those who had been engaged in the trade for more than 20 years. There is a need for regulation of small scale enterprises to protect the health of workers. Health education and provision of low cost ear plugs will reduce the occurrence and severity of hearing impairment among these low income workers.

Perceptions of child labour among working children in Ibadan, Nigeria

The adverse effects of child labour on the children's psychological development continue to raise concerns about this public health problem worldwide. Several views have been presented by child health authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international agencies. Few studies have focused on the children themselves. This study sought to determine working children's perspective of child labour, its benefits and disadvantages and the working children's perceptions of themselves, and their aspirations for the future. A cross-sectional study was carried out among working children in a large market in Ibadan, south-west Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to all consenting children. A total of 225 children, 132 females and 93 males, participated in the survey. Their age range was 8-17 years. A total of 103 respondents (46%) were currently in school while 117 (52%) were out of school. Five respondents (2%) had never attended school. A total of 104 (46%) thought that children should not work. However, when asked about the benefits of working, 81 working children (36%) felt that work provided a source of income for them, 52 (23%) indicated that it was a way of helping their parents and 39 (17%) thought it was part of their training to be responsible adults. Bad company, ill health and road traffic accidents were the perceived ill effects of child labour. The majority of the children interviewed were aspiring towards artisan trades and very few towards professional or office jobs. A total of 106 (47%) children perceived themselves as less fortunate than their peers. Fifty-five children (24%) thought that child labour was a sign of deprivation. The perception that child labour is a sign of deprivation was more prevalent among child workers whose highest educational attainment was primary school, child workers who had worked for more than 6 months and those whose earnings were small. We recommend that school education for children should be a priority even when the harsh economic realities in their families force parents to send them to work outside the home.

Health problems of mill operators in a tropical African population

The study reports a questionnaire based survey on mill operators in a large market in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria. One hundred and twenty respondents, 65 males and 55 females aged between 18 and 65 years were interviewed and noise measurements were done at various work stations. Health problems reported by these workers include headaches 73%, backache 53% and respiratory symptoms such as cough 37% rhinitis 63% and wheezing 13%. Thirty four respondents (28%) reported a difficulty in hearing mostly due to tinnitus. Four complained of deafness. Twenty-three (19%) had raised blood pressure of 140/90Hg and above. In spite of the high levels of dust in the work environment only 15 (13%) of workers used a face cloth to cover their noses. Noise levels at the work stations ranged from 88-90dB from smaller machines and 101-105 dB for larger machines. None of the workers used hearing protection in any form. Health education of workers and the provision of low cost protective equipment may alleviate the suffering of these workers.