Effect of Demographic Factors on Health-Seeking Behaviour and Use of PPE Among Artisans in Makurdi – Nigeria.
Author
Nserd Ntonoba Mfa, Raymond Akpobome Vhriterhire, Abeje Ntonoba Mfam
Abstract
Occupational health plays a vital role in the well-being of artisans, directly influencing their productivity, quality of life, and overall longevity. Each skillset has peculiar health challenges which negatively impact the quality of life of the artisans. This objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between demographic factors (such as education status, occupation and income), health-seeking behavior and the use of personal protective equipment among select groups of artisans in Makurdi – Nigeria, through a descriptive cross-sectional survey. A sample of 384 workers were randomly selected from Artisans across 5 vocational groups namely construction workers (welders, plumbers, fabricators, and masons), tailors, shoe manufacturers, automobile technicians, and carpenters. Data collection was done by interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data was analysed using Microsoft Excel software. Logistic regression revealed that Automobile technicians are significantly more likely to report health problems (β = 0.9188, p = 0.035) than other artisan categories. Education levels of artisans and occupation (Automobile Technician) do not show a strong statistical effect on PPE use. Low and mid-income artisans are significantly less likely to use PPE compared to the high-income artisans. None of the independent variables (education status, occupation, income level) significantly predicts healthcare-seeking behaviour for occupational health problems (all p-values > 0.05). The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions in healthcare access, safety training, and PPE enforcement.
Keywords
Effect; Demographic factor; Health-seeking behavior; Artisans; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Full Text:
References
Afolabi, A. O., Oke, A. E., & Akintunde, O. O. (2020). Health risks and occupational safety in Nigerian carpentry workshops. Journal of Occupational Health and Safety Studies, 7(2), 95-110. Afolabi J. F, Paul de Beer, & Haafken J.A. (2020). Orthodox or traditional medicine? Private or public healthcare? Exploring treatment pathways for occupational health problems among informal automobile artisans. Social Science & Medicine, 265:113510. ISSN 0277-9536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113510. Afolabi J. F, Paul de Beer, & Haafken J.A. (2021). Can occupational safety and health problems be prevented or not? Exploring the perception of informal automobile artisans in Nigeria, Safety Science, 135:105097, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2020.105097. Agu, A. P., Umeokonkwo, C. D., Adeke, A. S., Nnabu, C. R., Ossai, E. N., & Azuogu, B. N. (2022). Awareness Of Occupational Hazards, Use of Personal Protective Equipment and Workplace Risk Assessment Among Welders in Mechanic Village, Abakaliki, South-East Nigeria. Nigerian medical journal: journal of the Nigeria Medical Association, 62(3), 113–121. Ahad, A. A., Sanchez-Gonzalez, M., & Junquera, P. (2023). Understanding and Addressing Mental Health Stigma Across Cultures for Improving Psychiatric Care: A Narrative Review. Cureus, 15(5), e39549. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.39549 Cotobal-Calvo, E. M., Mata-Pérez, C., Bocchino, A., Gilart, E., Gutiérrez-Baena, B., & Palazón-Fernández, J. L. (2025). Self-Medication Practice and Associated Factors Among Health Professionals in Spain. Nursing reports (Pavia, Italy), 15(2), 53. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep15020053 David I. I. & Tobin-West, C. (2025). Assessing Willingness to Enroll in Social Health Insurance Program among Artisans in Rivers State, Nigeria. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 6(1), 2206-2213. Evans, M. V., Andréambeloson, T., Randriamihaja, M., Ihantamalala, F., Cordier, L., Cowley, G., Finnegan, K., Hanitriniaina, F., Miller, A. C., Ralantomalala, L. M., Randriamahasoa, A., Razafinjato, B., Razanahanitriniaina, E., Rakotonanahary, R. J. L., Andriamiandra, I. J., Bonds, M. H., & Garchitorena, A. (2022). Geographic barriers to care persist at the community healthcare level: Evidence from rural Madagasca r. PLOS global public health, 2(12), e0001028. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0001028 Fekadu, G., Dugassa, D., Negera, G. Z., Woyessa, T. B., Turi, E., Tolossa, T., Fetensa, G., Assefa, L., Getachew, M., & Shibiru, T. (2020). Self-Medication Practices and Associated Factors Among Health-Care Professionals in Selected Hospitals of Western Ethiopia. Patient preference and adherence, 14, 353–361. https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S244163 Ishak, M. and Obeng-Ofori, D. (2022). Occupational Health and Safety Issues among Artisans in the Bibiani Municipality. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies and Innovative Research, 10:1441-1459. 10.53075/Ijmsirq/6564453446. Johnson, O. and Bassey, E. (2016). Work Habits and Health Problems of Automobile Technicians at Mechanic Village, Uyo, Nigeria. Global Advanced Research Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 5(5), 136-142. ISSN: 2315-5159. Latunji, O. O., & Akinyemi, O. O. (2018). Factors influencing health-seeking behaviour among civil servants in ibadan, nigeria. Annals of Ibadan postgraduate medicine, 16(1), 52–60. Makurdi Population 2025. (2025, Feb 10). World Population Review. https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities/nigeria/makurdi Mensah S. K., Siabi E. K., Donkor P., & Kurantin N. (2022). Assessing the safety and health practices in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector of Ghana: A case of Ntotroso, Environmental Challenges, 6:100443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2022.100443. Nnadi, H.C., Ossai, O.G. & Nwokocha, V.C. (2024). Urbanization factors and the vagaries of the rural health care industry in Nigeria: an analysis of the accessibility of healthcare services by older adults in the Nsukka Local Government Area. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 11, 1355 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03799-4 Olasehinde, N. (2018). Healthcare Seeking Behavior in Nigeria. Journal of Population and Social Studies, 26:207-218. 10.25133/JPSSv26n3.015. Osang, F. B. and Akemokwe, J. M. (2019). Developing an Integrated Portal Management System for Artisans and Technicians in Nigeria: A Prototype System Development Approach. JABU Journal of Science and Technology, 4(4). Ratnapradipa, K.L., Jadhav, S., & Kabayundo, J. (2023). Factors associated with delaying medical care: cross-sectional study of Nebraska adults. BMC Health Serv Res, 23, 118 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09140-0 Shabu, T. & Tyonum, T. (2015). Residents Coping Measures in Flood Prone Areas of Makurdi Town, Benue State. Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 1. 120-125. 10.12691/aees-1-6-4. Sunday A, I., Solomon O, O., and Adelore, O. (2019). Literacy Needs Assessment of Artisans in Ibadan Metropolis, Oyo State, Nigeria. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 7(2), 57-64. doi:https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.7n.2p.57