Waste picking might provide, in low-income countries, a livelihood for many individuals representing an important survival strategy. However, during their activities, waste pickers are at risk of encountering harmful waste, which could cause injuries and other infectious diseases. This paper investigates the occurrences of injury among waste pickers and the methods they use to treat the injuries in Bauchi city, Northeastern Nigeria. A total of 322 waste pickers were randomly selected across 80 waste pickers’ middlemen shops. Data was obtained through questionnaire and interview. Based on the data presented, 1474 frequencies of injuries were reported among 247 waste pickers. Age, education and working experience are significant parameters to the prevalence of injuries among waste pickers, and the incidence of injuries increased with the decrease in those parameters. The study shows that most of the waste pickers experienced injuries, most of whom do not attend clinic when injury occurs; instead, they used salt, ash, sand, hydraulic, kerosene, battery acid, among others, to treat their wounds. Cuts and pierces are good entry points for bacteria and viruses, which can eventually spread to the general public infectious diseases, such as Hepatitis, Cholera and Lassa fever. Provision of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), a labor rights policy, immunization and the launch of an awareness campaign are among the recommendations made by this study.

Background: The Northern part of Nigeria, has higher rates of child marriage, lower levels of contraceptive use, lower rates of antenatal care, fewer births delivered in a health facility, and higher total fertility rates and adolescent fertility rates than Southern regions. The purpose of this study is to identify predictors of current and intentions to use contraception, among young women of Northern Nigeria. Methods: The data analyzed in this study are from 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, part of the Demographic and Health Survey by USAID. Results: Participants (N = 10066) ranged in age from 15 to 24 (mean = 19, sd = 2.76) from the three northern regions of Nigeria, primarily lived in rural areas (68.7%, n = 7107). We found that, 83.3 percent of the sample had heard of modern contraceptive methods, though only 3.6 (n = 357.2) were currently using a modern contraceptive method, and 43.4 (n = 4286.4) intended to use them. Conclusion: The primary predictors of contraceptive use include literacy, wealth, educational levels, being the decision maker regarding contraceptives, age of first sex, wanting more children, and decisional autonomy in the home. Since the literacy is low, interventions should utilize pictures and radio programs, traditional and religious leaders, and incorporate men.

Waste picking plays an important role through resource recovery and also impoverished individuals to cope with poverty especially in less developed countries. The working condition of the waste pickers is a cause for concern as, in most cases; work without safety protectives equipment while being exposed to numerous occupational hazards. To address these health and safety challenges, adequate understanding of the pickers’ knowledge of the hazards associated with the occupation and their safety protection practices is required. This is the root upon which this study was conducted. It assessed the level of knowledge of waste pickers on occupational health and safety hazards and their safety practices in Bauchi city, northeastern Nigeria. A total of 322 waste pickers were selected from 80 dealers’ depots across the study area for questionnaire administration and interview. The findings revealed that up to 74% of the pickers are aware of the health and safety risks associated with the occupation, and 52% are knowledgeable of the measures required to protect their health and safety. However, only a small fraction of the waste pickers was found to be using safety protective equipment regularly, such as boots 8.9%, gloves 3.8%, and nose masks 1.9%. These highlight the high degree of vulnerability to occupational hazards that waste pickers are exposed to. Provision of social interventions, regular medical check-ups, waste segregation from source and enforcement of employer and employee rights by law, between the waste scavengers and their masters were among the recommendations made towards pursuing better occupational health and safety conditions of the waste pickers.

This study aimed at assessing the economic and environmental benefits of waste scavenging in Maiduguri, which has been presumably neglected by formal sector. The objectives of the study were to: identify the types of waste materials recovered by scavengers, determine the average monthly income and factors that influence the income of Scavengers and examine the environmental benefits of waste scavenging. Data were collected using Questionnaire and observation checklists. Five wards out of the 15 wards that constituted the study area were purposively selected for the study. 210 scavengers were randomly selected and administer Questionnaire at the depots in each of the sampled wards where they sell recovered materials. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi square test. The study found that scavenging is a male dominated occupation, with a mean age of 20.2 and average monthly income of N13, 500. The Chi-square test performed to demonstrate the influence of socio demographic factors on income of scavengers revealed a significant association between Age, Educational attainment, length of practice, marital status and categories of waste scavengers. Gender and alternative occupation were the only insignificant factors. The study also showed that, Scrap metals and aluminum were the major materials recovered by scavengers as ascertain by 65.71%, and that the materials are recovered base on their economic value, quality and state. Seasonal differences also contribute to the pricing of recyclable materials recovered by scavengers. The study also revealed that despite the significant contribution of scavengers to environmental sustenance, economic growth and poverty reduction, their activities is still not acknowledge by local authorities in the study area. The study recommends that Government should recognize their contributions as important stakeholders in the waste management sector in Maiduguri by diversifying the types of recyclables and establishing recycling plants, more permanent employment could be provided for the scavengers and other people, thereby improving the economy. Also, Successful integration of scavengers into a formal programme can help optimize waste collection and recycling in an integrated waste management programme. If well organized, scavengers could be given the necessary training that would enable them overcome the challenges they encounter in their activities, especially those related to vulnerability of hazards.