ASSESSMENT OF HYGIENE PRACTICES AND ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION CONDITIONS AMONG ABATTOIR WORKERS IN THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY
Keywords:
Abattoir hygiene, environmental sanitation, food safety, occupational health, NigeriaAbstract
This study assessed hygiene practices and environmental sanitation conditions among abattoir workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 100 workers selected from four major abattoirs; Karu, Gwagwalada, Dei-Dei, and Kuje, between January and March 2025. Data were collected using a structured Likert-scale questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics summarized hygiene practices and sanitation conditions, Pearson's correlation examined relationships among hygiene behaviours, and one-sample t-tests compared sanitation indicators against the adequacy threshold of 3.0. Results revealed strong positive correlations among handwashing, PPE use, tool cleaning, and post-shift bathing (r = 0.80–0.92, p < 0.001), indicating that hygiene behaviours cluster together among conscientious workers. However, environmental sanitation conditions were uniformly substandard. Mean scores for access to clean water (M = 2.24), waste disposal systems (M = 2.55), facility cleanliness (M = 2.65), and functional toilet facilities (M = 2.40) all fell significantly below acceptable levels (p < 0.01). Workers identified infrastructural deficits, infrequent regulatory inspections, and limited access to protective equipment as primary barriers. Notably, self-rated knowledge met acceptable levels (M = 3.00, p = 1.000), indicating that sanitation deficits stem from structural and institutional failures rather than worker ignorance. The study concludes that improving abattoir sanitation in the FCT requires urgent infrastructural investment, strengthened regulatory oversight, and provision of free protective equipment. Responsibility lies primarily with institutional stakeholders to create environments where workers' adequate knowledge can translate into consistent safe practices.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ogbonna Kate, Anasin Haruna, Beyioku Marie Damilola, Salau Joseph (Author)
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