International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology ISSN 2756-3820 Vol. 15 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluating the Ecological Impact of Refuse Dump Sites in Southern Nigeria

Owoeye I. O. Gani¹* and Okojie O. H.²

¹Department of Community Health, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
²Department of Community Health, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.

Accepted 21 October, 2025

The overall objective of this study was to perform an external compliance environmental audit of open refuse dumping at the Ugbor dump site by describing the physical and economic characteristics of the study area using a descriptive, cross sectional comparative study design. Data were collected via key informant interviews, focus group discussion, checklists and standardized measuring tapes. The major operational deficiencies identified were poor sanitation practices within and around the refuse dump site, inadequate manpower to oversee the day to day activities of the dump site and lack of equipment necessary for clean-up activities within the refuse dump site. The refuse dump also lacked antipollution equipment for detoxification of effluents, gas recovery systems, firefighting equipment, buffer zones and there was no fence around the dump site. A waste handler at the Ugbor refuse dump site does not require formal education; individuals learn on the job and are susceptible to disease conditions. Environmental audit revealed that Ugbor refuse dump site is out of compliance with the guidelines of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency of Nigeria and now poses public health risks and aesthetic burden to the citizens it meant to serve.

Key words: Ugbor, Edo, environment, audit, morbidity, survey.
 

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology ISSN 2756-3820 Vol. 14 (3), pp. 001-011, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Predictors of Health Outcomes in Children Under Five: Evidence from Abia State, Nigeria

Imo Chukwuechefulam Kingsley¹, Isiugo-Abanihe Uche Charlie² and Chikezie David Chidi³

¹Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akoko-Akungba, P.

M. B. 001, Ondo State, Nigeria.

²Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

³Department of Statistics, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria.

Accepted 10 September, 2025

Socioeconomic factors have been identified as affecting all aspects of peoples’ lives; and it is intricately linked to the demographic proce ss. They are strong predictors of infant and child health outcome in most developing countrie s. This paper examined socioeconomic determinants of under-five children health outcome with data from a sample of 609 women of childbearing age in rural and urban areas of Abia State. The study utilized explanatory study de sign involving survey research with a multi - stage sampling technique and a methodological triangulation of both quantitative and qualitative techniques was adopted in gathering the data. The respondents’ age was 32.6±5. 8 years, 84.6% were married/living together, 55.0% had secondary education, while 42.7% were in paid/civil service jobs. Incidence of under-five mortality declined sharply a s mother’s level of education increase s. Urban respondents who were in paid or civil service jobs had more incidence of under-five mortality compared to their rural counterparts. The likelihood of experiencing under-five morbidity and mortality significantly reduced with higher levels of mother’s education (Odds-Ratio (OR): 0.08) and increased with paid/civil service and farming/petty trading jobs (OR: 2.35 and OR: 2.08, respec tively). The outcome of an under-five child’s health depends on socio-economic factors. Maternal socioeconomic factors cannot be employed as a proxy for general social and economic change, but must be examined as important forces in their own rights.

Key words: Under-five health outcome, socioeconomic, childbearing mothers in Abia State.
 

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology ISSN 2756-3820 Vol. 14 (3), pp. 001-015, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessing the Impact of Urban Drainage and River Modification on Opa Reservoir Water Quality, Ile-Ife, Southwest Nigeria

Taiwo Adekanmi Adesakin¹, Adebukola Adenike Adedeji¹*, Adedeji Idowu Aduwo¹ and Yetunde Folasade Taiwo²

¹Department of Zoology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
²Natural History Museum, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Accepted 9 September, 2025

Over the years, there is a direct linkage of township drains and streams to the Opa reservoir, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. Hence the spatial and temporal variations of the reservoir’s water quality were studied between November 2012 and October 2013 to investigate the effect of these discharges on these. Physical, chemical as well as the oxygen parameters of the water were investigated using standard techniques. The parameters determined revealed considerable temporal variations with the rainy season averaged concentration of COD, TOC, OM, TSS, TS, turbidity, apparent colour, true colour, sodium, and phosphate significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of the dry season. Spatially, DO, TSS, TS, organic matter and TOC decreased significantly (p<0.05) from riverine to the lacustrine (dam site). However, calcium, sulphate, and electrical conductivity showed significant increases (p<0.05) from the riverine zone section towards the dam site. Vertically, sulphate, bicarbonate, COD, TOC, chloride, TSS, TS, turbidity, apparent colour, true colour and sodium ion values increased significantly (p<0.05) from the surface down to the bottom. Conversely, magnesium, total hardness, nitrate, BOD, DO, electrical conductivity, acidity, carbonate, alkalinity, TDS and pH values decreased (p<0.05) from water surface to the bottom of the reservoir. Therefore, the discharges from the catchment area of Opa reservoir could pose a level of risk to the aquatic ecosystem as well as the community if not well treated before being supplied.

Key words: Spatial, temporal, water quality, zones, risk level, source.
 

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology ISSN 2756-3820 Vol. 14 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluating the Link Between Urban Hygiene Practices and Communal Health in Southern Nigeria

Ibanga Eyo Ekong

Department of Community Health University of Uyo, Nigeria.

Accepted 12 October, 2025

Inadequate environmental sanitation has been recognized as a public health hazard worldwide. In some Nigerian cities, living with waste as part of the natural environment has become a way of life. This study examined the sanitary condition of an urban community in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. It used a cross sectional survey design for a population of 123,033 inhabitants of four villages in North Eastern Akwa Ibom. Multi-stage sampling was used in selecting 237 inhabitants in this community and structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using frequencies, percentages, Chi- square test and multiple logistic regressions. Results showed that tap water was the major source of water, usually disinfected by boiling. Results of multiple logistic regression showed a significant association between gender and their participation in environmental sanitation (p<0.05) with males showing 9 times more odds of participation than females (OR =9.84, C.I =1.225-79.018). Unwholesome practices like open refuse dumping and building of pit latrines close to the house were prevalent in this community. Therefore, to enhance the sanitary condition in this community, government should establish and enforce a more robust environmental sanitation approach and health education.

Key words: Environmental sanitation, sanitary condition, diarrhoea, disease.
 

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology ISSN 2756-3820 Vol. 14 (2), pp. 001-005, February, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Social Determinants of Health: Addressing Conceptual Conflicts and Operational Hurdles

Rajan R. Patil

School of Public Health, SRM University, Chennai, India. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 9445811610.

Accepted 12 November, 2024

Abstract

Health is determined by many factors ranging from one’s immediate physical-psycho-socio environment to the political milieu of the society that an individual lives in. When we look through the biomedical paradigm of health, disease could be explained through a set of micro-level physiological, bio-chemical and pathological changes in the body which are triggered by internal or external environment. When we broaden the horizon and contextualize health through social medicine paradigm, the whole gamut of constellation of macro level determinants also known as social determinants of health come to the fore. The Social determinants are generally outside the realm of individual control for example, the politics, policies, International agreements like General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATTS), Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), KYOTO protocol etc affect health so also national upheavals like civil wars, communalism, fundamentalism within the country, all of which effect health. This paper tries to drive home the point that while all determinants of health have their own importance, however it is important that we prioritize determinants as actionable and explanatory determinants. Actionable determinants are those predictors of health that easily lend themselves to direct action. Explanatory determinants are factors or philosophies or models that help us in further understanding health as theoretical construct. Innovative efforts need to be made to convert more and more explanatory health determinants into the ambit of actionable health determinants to evolve innovative interventions to demonstrate that action on social determinants of health is feasible.

Key words: Social determinants, causation, risk factor.

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology ISSN 2756-3820 Vol. 14 (2), pp. 001-009, February, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Hypertension Prevalence, Dietary Habits, and Nutritional Status of Traders in Sokoto Central Market, Nigeria

Awosan, K. J.¹*, Ibrahim, M. T. O.¹, Essien, E.², Yusuf, A. A.³ and Okolo, A.C.³

1Department of Community Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.

2Nutrition Unit, Department of Community Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.

3Department of Internal Medicine, Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.

Accepted 07 November, 2025

Poor diet (high consumption of sugar, salt, saturated fat, etc) and unhealthy lifestyle (smoking, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity) have been identified as major risk factors of cardiovascular disease and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs are the leading causes of death globally, killing more people each year than all other causes combined. This study was conducted to assess the dietary pattern, lifestyle, nutrition status and prevalence of hypertension among traders in Sokoto, Nigeria. A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among 390 traders selected by multistage sampling technique from November to December, 2012. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were done for the participants, together with questionnaire administration. High prevalence of unhealthy eating habits was recorded among the participants; 50.7% eat their largest meal at dinner, 49.9% eat snacks everyday, 66.7% eat fatty foods, 27.1% and 33.0% drink fruit juice and carbonated drinks, respectively thrice weekly or more, 56.0 and 58.8% eat fruits and vegetables, respectively less than thrice in a week or not at all. Also, 50.7% live a sedentary lifestyle, 5.2% currently smoke cigarette and 10.8% had consumed alcohol within the past 30 days. Similarly, the prevalence of overweight (28.9%), obesity (28.1%) and hypertension (29.1%) was high among the participants. This study demonstrated high prevalence of unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle; together with high prevalence of overweight, obesity and hypertension among traders in Sokoto. Health education and other interventions to promote healthy eating habits and lifestyle, especially among high risk groups are suggested.

Key words: Dietary pattern, lifestyle, nutrition status, hypertension, prevalence.