Workers In Nigeria Research Articles

To What Extent were the Public Sector Workers underpaid in Nigeria before the Wage increase in 1998?

This study investigates the extent to which public sector workers in Nigeria were underpaid before the wage increase September 1998. Before the wage increase, public sector workers’ take-home pay had suffered a stagnation, which dates back to 1993 fiscal year. The core of the empirical analysis it the determination of differential in pay for public and private sector workers of the same educational qualification and age. Mincerian human capital model is estimated for only urban male employees (as they constitute a homogeneous group) in the public and private sectors. The results obtained show that before wage review of’ 1998, public sector workers suffered a pay disadvantage of 6.78 percent. This paltry pay disadvantage/differential suggests (in the face of the stagnation that characterised public sector pay on the one hand and in the absence of any wage reduction in the private sector on the other) that wage growth in the private sector must have been slow and this may be attributed to a certain extent to the down-turn in the nation’s economic activity and the fact that the state of’ public sector pay in Nigeria determines the direction of private sector pay or any other pay for that matter in the various segments of the nation’s labour market.

Impact of organizational treatment on job satisfaction among workers in selected tertiary institutions in Nigeria

The study investigated the impact of organizational treatment on job satisfaction among workers in selected tertiary institutions in Nigeria. This was for the purpose of ascertaining the organizational factors that could enhance job satisfaction among institutional workers in Nigeria. The study adopted the ex-post facto research design. A total of 200 respondents were selected from some Universities in Nigeria using purposive and stratified sampling techniques. The instrument used for the data collection was a set of questionnaire with reliability co-efficient of 0.79 using Cronbach Alpha formula. The four-null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 alpha level using Pearson product Moment Correlation and t-test statistical methods. The finding of the study revealed that there was a significant relationship between organizational treatment and workers’ job satisfaction. A significant relationship was also found between organizational treatment and workers’ attitude to work. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that workers’ involvement in planning and implementation of organizational programmes should be encouraged in order to motivate workers and foster job satisfaction. Also, the wages and salaries of the workers should be subjected to continuous review and promptly paid in order to foster their commitment to organizational goals.

High prevalence of hepatitis B virus among female sex workers in Nigeria

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in Nigeria and constitutes a public health menace. The prevalence of HBV infection in many professional groups has been described in Nigeria. However, literature on HBV infection among female sex workers (FSW) in Nigeria is scanty. FSW in Nigeria are not subjected to a preventive control of HBV infection. This study assesses the extent of spread of HBV among FSW in Nigeria. Seven hundred and twenty (n = 720) FSW (mean age = 26.7 years) were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by a double antibody sandwich ELISA method. The overall HBV prevalence among the FSW was 17.1%. FSWs between the ages of 31-35 year (20.5%) and those with 'age-at-first-sex' below 10 years of age (28%) were most affected. This high prevalence of a vaccine preventable disease is unacceptable, therefore, vaccination of this high risk HBV reservoir group should be considered worthwhile.

Health Hazards Among grain Storage Workers in Nigeria

Potential hazards to the health of grain storage workers have increased over the years basically because of the sophistication in storage systems, grain dust, biological contaminants and chemicals used in storage. To identify the hazards of grain storage in southwest and middle belt regions of Nigeria, analysis of medical records, interviews and questionnaires were used in eleven selected establishments from flour mills, the strategic grain reserves (SGRs) and breweries. Findings showed that the principal cause of hazards was the grain dust and other forms of dust like soil from harvest, insect and chemical preservative residues. The results obtained showed that 33.85% of workers were affected with catarrh, 21.54% with skin irritation, 18.46% headache, 4.62% high body temperature and 21.54% with cough. However, skin irritations were higher in SGRs, headache and cough were higher in breweries while flour mills were more associated with catarrh. Hazards in grain storage can be minimized or even eliminated if proper handling techniques are adopted and all necessary safety precautions strictly adhered to. Keywords : Grain, Storage, Workers, Health, Hazards, Dust Journal of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology Vol. 6 (1) 2006 pp. 1-7

Transition to Retirement: Effect of Participation in Preretirement Education in Nigeria

This study investigated the effect of preretirement education on the retirement transition plans of workers in Nigeria. The sample includes preretirees of Wema Bank PLC and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority who participated in preretirement education workshops. The study shows that a majority of workers would prefer to retire at the normal age, but they fear that management can retire them at any time and for any reason. This fear was revealed by the concerns generated when participants received their letters of invitation for the preretirement workshop. The findings show that more than two-thirds (88.9%) of the workers agreed that preretirement education would assist them in their adjustment to retirement. The study concludes that preretirement education has the ability to generate positive changes in attitudes and habits as well as create positive preparedness. These benefits of preretirement education will facilitate the transition to retirement.

Adjustment Patterns and Obstacles Against Social Rehabilitation of Sex Workers in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigerian Public School Workers’ Perception and Attitude to Pre-Retirement Counselling

This study was designed to find out how public school workers nearing retirement perceived retirement counselling and their attitude to its programme. It was assumed that their perception that would be reflected in their attitude would not differ across age, sex, qualification, occupational level and professional status. The result, which however, showed a significant relationship between perception and attitude, revealed that public school workers in Nigeria showed less optimistic perception of retirement counselling and less favourable attitude towards its programme. Also, significant differences were shown to exist along qualifications and status lines in terms of their perception of pre-retirement counselling. The implications for retirement counselling were discussed.

Constituting the Unsafe: Nigerian Sex Workers' Notions of Unsafe Sexual Conduct

Abstract:This article reports findings of a qualitative inquiry on representations of unsafe sexual conduct among female sex workers in Aba, Nigeria. Participating sex workers viewed their work as a form of business, a survival imperative in the face of poverty, and they generally considered it both risky and disgraceful. However, they frequently framed unsafe sexual behavior in terms of poorly remunerated unprotected sex with clients. Sex workers in the study were not only generally willing to grant, but also confirmed regularly granting, unprotected sex to clients offering to pay a premium for it. Receiving “good money” for unprotected sex made higher degrees of risk acceptable to these women and was considered an effective way to avoid clients assumed to be carriers of infections. In their struggle for sexual health, sex workers in Nigeria are hindered by poverty, powerlessness, and marginality. Future programs must aim, inter alia, at supporting sex workers' willingness to insist on condoms no matter what clients offer them to do otherwise.

Moving beyond Schein's typology: individual career anchors in the context of Nigeria

PurposeDrawing on institutional theory, this study sets out to explore the career anchors that exist among information technology (IT) workers in Nigeria and also to establish the strongest anchors in this context.Design/methodology/approachThis research adopted a two‐pronged methodological approach, which involved the use of 30 semi‐structured interviews and a 336‐question survey.FindingsResults suggest the continued significance of traditional orientations to careers in Nigeria as well as orientations associated with new career theory.Research limitations/implicationsThe extent to which the findings of this research can be generalised is constrained by the selected context of the research.Practical implicationsHuman resources managers in Nigeria should be cautious of adopting career management models developed in the West. They should provide a reward system, which minimises financial uncertainty and risk.Originality/valueThis paper provides valuable insights on the career anchors of IT workers in a relatively neglected region in the literature. It also extends Schein's original career anchor theory.

Legal perspectives on the casualisation of workers under Nigerian Labour Law

This article discusses the different faces of the phenomenon of casualization of labour in Nigeria and the struggle of the workers towards a dignified realization of their labour rights. A comparative review of other jurisdictions is made to give more insights into the problem, and a number of suggestions are made on how the workers in Nigeria can be afforded better labour conditions in order to enjoy their labour rights. East African Journal of Peace and Human rights Vol. 13 (1) 2007: pp. 104-125

Inequities in Valuation of Benefits, Choice of Drugs, and Mode of Payment for Malaria Treatment Services Provided by Community Health Workers in Nigeria

This study determined inequities of using community health workers (CHWs) for timely and appropriate treatment of malaria in terms of: 1) valuation of benefits; 2) actual purchase of drugs; and 3) payment modality in southeast Nigeria. Socioeconomic status (SES) influenced the valuation of benefits. Also, the poorest households consumed more of the cheaper drug and less of the more expensive drug (P < 0.05). The least poor households mostly paid in full, whereas the poorest households paid mostly through installments (P < 0.05). The use of CHWs improved overall geographic but not socioeconomic equity to the drugs. Hence, interventions for timely and appropriate treatment of malaria should be accompanied by drug delivery and payment strategies that would ensure SES equity in consumption of appropriate malaria treatment services.

Work-related symptoms and hazard preventative measures among oral health care workers in Nigeria

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of work-related symptoms among oral health workers other than the dentist in Nigeria and the preventive measures put in place to reduce exposure to hazardous agents and practices. The study was by means of self-administered questionnaires filled by all cadres of oral health staff who attended two National update courses as well as in all the four teaching hospitals and all public hospitals in Lagos State. Ninety (90) questionnaires were returned properly filled out of one hundred and ten (110) distributed. Forty-five(50%) of them responded positively to the question on the presence of work-related illnesses. There was a significant relationship between answering positively to the question and working in awkward positions (p=0.0006), lifting heavy equipments (p=0.01), working with noisy equipments (p=0.02) and being over 40 years of age (p=0.03). However, gender and years of practice were not significantly associated with a positive response. Use of preventive measures was inadequate. Hepatitis B vaccination coverage was found only in 33(36.7%) of them while workplace control measures were not satisfactory. In conclusion, proper regulation of the dental work environment as well as personal protection of employee especially mandatory uptake of hepatitis B vaccination is advocated. Keywords: work-related, occupational, symptoms, oral health workers Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 5 (2) 2006: 62-65

Osteoporosis Related Minimal Trauma Fractures: Awareness Among Health Workers In Nigeria

Osteoporosis Related Minimal Trauma Fractures: Awareness Among Health Workers In Nigeria

Job satisfaction among primary health care workers in three selected local government areas in South Western Nigeria

The primary health care system in Nigeria has been impaired by lack of dedicated workers who are willing to work in the rural areas. This study was carried out to examine factors that enhance job satisfaction among health workers in the primary health care system in Nigeria. The study is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in May 2002. The respondents were selected from three local government areas in southwest Nigeria by multistage sampling technique. A standardized structured pre-coded close-ended self-administered questionnaire to collect relevant information on their socio-demographic characteristics and extent of job satisfaction of respondents. A total of 125 health workers were interviewed in all. The mean score on job satisfaction was 26.15 out of the total possible score of 49. There was no statistically significant relationship in job satisfaction among the various cadres of health workers considered (p = 0.824). A larger proportion (66.4%) of the health workers were involved with the community based preventive services when compared with the health centre based curative care 33.4% (p < 0.05), there is however no significant difference in satisfaction between this two groups of personnel (p = 0.133). Age and marital status were found to be statistically significant in relation to job satisfaction (p = 0.000 and 0.034 respectively). The study shows no significant difference in job satisfaction among the various cadres of health workers in southwest Nigeria. However age and marital status were found to be significant factors influencing job satisfaction among the primary health care workers in Nigeria.

Hepatitis B vaccination status among health workers in Enugu, Nigeria.

Health workers in Nigeria are particularly at increased risk of contracting hepatitis B virus in their work place because Nigeria is a holoendemic area. Hepatitis B vaccination virtually eliminates this risk. There are few studies on the perception and uptake of hepatitis B vaccination among health workers in Nigeria and none to our knowledge in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu. To determine the Hepatitis B vaccination level among all categories of health workers in UNTH, Enugu, and the factors that influence its uptake. The study was cross-sectional in design. Subjects were health workers likely to be exposed to patients and or their body fluids. The tool was a self administered pre-tested questionnaire and analysis was done using SPSS version 11.5 software. Fifty point four percent of the health workers felt that their jobs exposed them to an increased risk of contracting hepatitis B virus infection. There is a significant occupational difference in perception with only 5.5% of the ward attendants as against 67.9% of other workers feeling that their jobs exposed them to increased risk (P = 0.00). Twenty two point four percent had received Hepatitis B vaccination, 3.7% had received 3 or more doses. Only years of occupational practice had a significant influence on vaccination uptake (P = 0.00). The most common reason for non-vaccination was lack of opportunity (43.08%). Among the 53.7% of the respondents who had had needle stick injury, none received post exposure prophylaxis. There is a low level of hepatitis B vaccination and no post exposure prophylaxis among health workers in UNTH, Enugu. This is due to poor perception of the risk of contracting this infection and non-availability of the vaccines.

The Hands

To investigate knowledge, attitudes, and predictors of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among female health care workers.Cross-sectional survey.Kano, northern Nigeria.The study population (N = 261) included all consenting female health care workers (nurse/midwives, n = 157; physicians, n = 39; pharmacists, n = 16; and other health care workers, n = 49) at an urban teaching hospital who were of reproductive age (18–49 years) with children less than 5 years of age (0–59 months).The respondents completed a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge and attitude scores for EBF were computed and adjusted odd ratios (aORs) generated from a logistic regression model.Of 261 respondents, including nurse/midwives, doctors, pharmacists, and other health care workers, 61 (23.4%), 184 (70.5%), and 16 (6.1%) had good, fair, and poor knowledge of EBF, respectively. Approximately 70% (n = 182) of the respondents exclusively breastfed their infants for 6 months. About one half (50.5%, n = 132) of the respondents supported breastfeeding in the workplace. Being a nonphysician (aOR = 4.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] [2.24, 9.79]), having an older index child (age ≥12 months; aOR = 2.12, 95% CI [1.13, 4.49]), spontaneous vaginal birth (aOR = 3.31, 95% CI [1.49, 7.37]), and good knowledge of the benefits of EBF (aOR = 1.34, 95% CI [1.12, 3.53]) increased the odds of EBF.We found knowledge, support, and practice of EBF among health care workers in Kano, Nigeria, to be suboptimal. Type of health care worker, age of the index child, type of birth, and breastfeeding knowledge independently predicted EBF. We recommend continuing education to address knowledge deficits and promote EBF among health care workers in Nigeria.

Effect of back school protocol on the referral rate of patients with low back pain to an industrial physiotherapy clinic

Back schools are educational programmes originally developed in a work place (Volvo factory in Sweden) for patients with back pain, to enable them to manage their own back problems better. ‘Back school’ was originally aimed at modifying the behaviours of patients with low back pain (LBP), with the view to prevent relapses. In an effort to encourage and stimulate the use of ‘back school’ among health workers in Nigeria, this study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a back school protocol in a Soap Making Industry in Lagos, Nigeria. One hundred and ten (110) workers of a Soap Making Industry in Lagos, Nigeria, participated in this study. A pre-test, post-test experimental design was employed. The participants were divided into two groups - office workers and factory workers for the purpose of the training in the content of the back school protocol. The ‘back school’ consisted of classroom teaching and the use of two videotapes titled “lifting technique” and “back pain”. Data on demographic information, knowledge of back structures and back care were collected using a questionnaire with closed ended questions, which was completed before, immediately after and 8 weeks after the administrations of the contents of the back school protocol (Akinpelu and Odebiyi, 2004). The records of the factory’s clinic were also reviewed for the 12-months before and 12 months after the study. The mean values of the participants’ age, height, weight and body mass index (BMI) were 36.60 ± 9.10 years, 1.65 ± 0.10 m,69.13 ± 7.70 kg and 25.40 ± 3.30 kg/m2 respectively. The results showed that the 12-months prevalence of low back pain (LBP) among the workers was 71%. The result also showed that over 50% of the participants never had any information or lesson on back care, and those that had some form of information obtained it by chance. There was 23% reduction in referral for care of back pain 12 months after the administration of the back school protocol. However, Chi square analysis showed that there was no significant difference (p = 0.23) between the number of physiotherapy referrals to the factory’s clinic 12-months before the study and 12-months after the studyThe findings of this study suggest that the back school protocol was able to impart some knowledge (of back pain and back care) in the industrial workers. This knowledge seems to have assisted this group of individuals to cultivate good postural habits, particularly at work. This might have led to the 23% reduction in the reported cases of patients with LBP to the factory’s Physiotherapy Clinic.

Neonatal jaundice and its management: knowledge, attitude and practice of community health workers in Nigeria

BackgroundNeonatal jaundice (NNJ) is still a leading cause of preventable brain damage, physical and mental handicap, and early death among infants in many communities. Greater awareness is needed among all health workers. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge of primary health care workers about the description, causes, effective treatment, and sequelae of NNJ.Methods The setting was a local government area i.e. an administrative district within the south-western part of Nigeria. Community health workers in this area were interviewed by means of a self-administered questionnaire which focused on awareness and knowledge of neonatal jaundice and its causes, treatment and complications.ResultsSixty-six community health workers participated in the survey and male-to-female ratio was 1:5. Their work experience averaged 13.5 (SD 12.7) years. Only 51.5% of the respondents gave a correct definition of NNJ. 75.8 % knew how to examine for this condition while 84.9 % knew at least two of its major causes in our environment. Also, only 54.5 % had adequate knowledge of effective treatment namely, phototherapy and exchange blood transfusion. Rather than referring affected babies to hospitals for proper management, 13.4 %, 10.4 % and 3 % of the participants would treat with ineffective drugs, natural phototherapy and herbal remedies respectively. None of the participants knew any effective means of prevention.ConclusionPrimary health care workers may have inadequate knowledge and misconceptions on NNJ which must be addressed concertedly before the impact of the condition on child health and well-being can be significantly reduced. We recommend regular training workshops and seminars for this purpose.

The chameleon career

PurposeThis paper seeks to explore claims about the changing nature of careers by focusing on how information technology (IT) workers enact careers in the context of Nigeria. The theoretical framework guiding this research is that societal context (social structure and institutions) has an influence on the career patterns exhibited by individuals.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a qualitative research approach, which involved semi‐structured interviews with 30 IT workers.FindingsAnalysis of the findings indicates that the career trajectory of these workers conforms in part with the traditional view of hierarchical and progressive careers and partly with recent models of the boundaryless career. In order to capture a more contextual understanding, and based on findings from this research which highlight both the dynamic and the reactive nature of the careers of IT workers in Nigeria, the concept of the chameleon career isi ntroduced.Originality/valueThis research contributes the Nigerian context and perspective to the wider discourse on changing nature of careers.

The Right to Learn: The Continuing Education Opportunities for Workers in Industries in Nigeria

This paper examined the Industrial Training Fund, which was established to provide skill-oriented continuing education opportunities for industrial workers in Nigeria. Based on the critical examination of the provisions of the decree and the activities of the Fund, suggestions are given towards the improvement of the policy and implementation. These include: mandatory provision of supervised on-the-job and off-the-job training opportunities by employers in order to enable employees have right to training, and this should be reflected in the contractual agreements; a law should be enacted to make it a duty of employers to train and retrain their employees; contributions to the fund should by done by the Government, employers and employees; training opportunities should be spread to all categories of employees; and, the Fund should carry out researches into the training needs of employers.