Authors : A.E. Adekoya and O.O. Fasina
Abstract: The study examined the exposure of children to hazards in their agricultural involvement in the southwest of Nigeria. Using a multistage sampling technique, the study selected children (5-14 years old) from 540 farming households from fifty percent of the states in the south west. Frequency tables, means, percentages and bar chart were used to present the findings of the study while the chi-square and Pearson product moment of correlation were used to test the study hypothesis. Study findings reveal that majority of the children were males 76.2% between the ages of 10 and 14 years old 86.9% with double parentage 87.3% enrolled in formal educational institutions 98.7%. Hazards mostly faced by children were insect stings 68.7%, punctures on the feet 67.6%, wounds on the leg 66.1% and hands 55.4%. Children`s gender was significantly related with level of hazards encountered (X2 = 89.08, p<0.05). At p<0.05, age of children r = 0.325 position among fathers` children r = 0.202, position among mothers` children r = 0.190 and educational level of the children r = 0.261 were all significantly and positively correlated to level of hazards faced by children. It was thus recommended that information on treatment of wounds, need for anti tetanus injections in community health centers and use of hard soled shoes by children be disseminated by extension to farm families.
A.E. Adekoya and O.O. Fasina , 2007. Occupational Safety Needs of Farm Children in South West Nigeria. Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences, 4: 18-22.