Knowledge of best abattoir waste management practices in Osun State, Nigeria: Bridging the theory-practice gap

Abstract

This paper assessed abattoir waste management practices in Ife Administrative zone, Osun State, Nigeria. It specifically described the socio-economic characteristics of abattoir operators, assessed available abattoir infrastructure, identified the different types of abattoir waste generated and determined the knowledge levels of the respondents on best waste management practices. A multistage sampling procedure was used for the study. Three out of four Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Ife Administrative zone and six communities from each of the LGAs were randomly selected,while 109 respondents were interviewed with a well-structured interview schedule. Data were collected and analysed using both descriptive (frequency counts, percentages, mean) and inferential (regression analysis) statistics. The findings revealed a male dominance (95.4%) in the abattoirs’ workforce, with a mean age of 44 ± 11.69 years and an estimated average income of ₦147,825. Existence of infrastructural deficit was evident in all the abattoirs, with regulation and information dissemination largely controlled by market and abattoir associations. There were low knowledge levels of best abattoir waste management practices in the study area. Also, average monthly income (β=0.402) and years of formal education (β =0.089) significantly influenced knowledge ofbest abattoir waste management practices. The study concluded that a wide knowledge gap in best abattoir waste management practices existed in the study area and the need for planned interventions to bridge the gap between the abattoir workers’ practices and the recommended best practices is of utmost importance.