METHODOLOGY TO STUDY HEALTH RISK OF QUARRY WORKERS

Study Background
            Ebonyi State is one of the five (5) South Eastern State of the 36 State of Nigeria which was created out of Enugu State and Abia State in the year, 1996 and it has 13 Local Government Area. Ezza North Local Governemnt where Umuoghara is located is thickly populated with a land mass of about 580. 72 sq km. it has eleven (11) wards and two (2) state constituencies. The major occupational of the people there are farming, trading and stone quarrying.

            Ezza North local Government Area was created in October, 1996. It was carved out from old Ezza local Government. The local Government is thickly populated with a land mass of about 580,72 sq km. it is bounded in the North by Ebonyi local Government Area, in the west by ohaukwu local Government in the east by Abakaliki local Government and in the South by Ezza South local Government Area. The local Government is majorly inhabited by Ezza people the major occupations of Ezza North Local Government are: farming, trading, transportation and stone quarrying. The local Governmnet is blessed with quarry industry, and block industries. (The information is gotten from Ezza North diary documentary 2011)

Study Area
            This study was carried out in Umuoghara Commuinty of Ezza North local Government Area in Ebonyi State where the quarry industrial site is located. The quarry sites were formerly scattered along the, Abakaliki and Enugu –Abakaliki Express way until 2006 when Dr. Sam Egwu initiated their move to Umuoghara for their temporal site but only acquired the land for the site. His Excellency, Chief Martin Elechi surveyed the land and provided the basic requirements for the take off, he then mandated and enforced their move on April 1, 2009. The quarry industry has about 300 crushers arranged in 4 clusters, with about 250 workers per day. Between 20-25 workers made up of both male and female aged between 15-45 from mainly the South Eastern States.
            The Executives govern their union of which all South Eastern States are represented. In case of injuries, the Executive take the workers to Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki for treatment. There is also a hospital at quarry site but is yet to be equipped. Disputes are settled by executives if they arise.

The study design
            The study was a cross- sectional descriptive type aimed at assessing the health hazards confronting quarry workers in Umunoghara, Ebonyi State.

The study population
            The study population composed of men, women, adolescents who work at the quarry site in Umuoghara, Ezza North Local Government Area and is about 6,000, which was drawn from the 300 quarry stands.

Sample Size Determination
            The sample size can be determined using the formular
n= Z2pq
   D2

 N= desired sample size
Z= the standard normal deviation usually set at 1.96 (corresponds to 95% confidence level).
P= (prevalence gotten from previous study (0.5).
Q =1-p =1-0.5=0.5
D =Degree of accuracy desired, usually set at 0.05 (ie if 95% accuracy is desired 100 -95 =5%    0.05
q=0.5
Thus sample size (n) =Z 2pg
n (1.96)2 x 0.5 x0.5     d2
                                    (0.05)2
            N=0.9604
                0.0025

N=384.16
Using nf =n
                 1+n/n

N=6000 (total number of quarry workers).
Nf =384.16
            1+348.16/ 6000
    =384.16
    = 1+0.64
    =361.0
     = 400
Sampling method
            By simple random method, 20 quarry units were selected; the participants were selected from these 20 units. In each unit, a total number of all eligible workers aged between 17-60 year were used. The first stage is to group them in clusters where 4 units were selected from each clusters and after which a simple random method was used.

Data collection
            Using pre-tested questionnaire to the workers who will consent to participate in the study.

Inclusion criteria
Male and female, who are full time workers at the quarry site.

Exclusion criteria
Children and adolescents who may not be full time workers are excluded.

Ethical considerations
Permission for this study was obtained before interviewing the workers. We enlightened them on the study and its aim and thereafter their consent was sought and obtained while reassuring them on confidentiality of any information provided by them and the use of the information solely for academic purposes.

DATA ANALYSIS
The data collected were analyzed using Epi Info
Data was presented using frequency tables, Bar chart Pie chart
Share on Google Plus

Declaimer - MARTINS LIBRARY

The publications and/or documents on this website are provided for general information purposes only. Your use of any of these sample documents is subjected to your own decision NB: Join our Social Media Network on Google Plus | Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin

READ RECENT UPDATES HERE