NON-FORMAL ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS CREATION AND HEALTH EDUCATION FOR IMPROVED ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION AMONG MARKET TRADERS OF ENUGU AND RIVERS STATES

Abstract

The study examined non-formal environmental awareness creation and health education for improved environmental sanitation among market traders of Enugu and Rivers States. Two objectives, two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The descriptive survey design was adopted. The population is made up of 17,024 market traders who are members of the Major and Ultra-Modern Market Traders’ Unions in three (3) L.G.As of Enugu and four (4) L.G.As of Rivers States. A multistage sampling technique which included purposive, simple random and proportionate stratified sampling techniques were used to sample 1,626 market traders in Rivers and Enugu States. An instrument titled Non-Formal Environmental Awareness Creation and Health Education for Improved Environmental Sanitation Questionnaire (NEACHEIESQ) was used for data collection. Face and content validity were ensured by experts. The reliability coefficient of 0.722 was established with Cronbach alpha statistics. Key Informant Interview was used to serve as compliment to the questionnaire for data collection. It was found among others that awareness creation, health education improved environmental sanitation among traders in Enugu and Rivers State to a high level. It was recommended among others that there is need for more sensitization and creation of awareness on the impact of using plastic containers and plastic bags to defecate and urinate inside the shops in order to curb pollution of their immediate environment; the traders should be given more orientation on the need to segregate their wastes before disposal.