Hazardous Conditions Of Women In Gari Processing Industry In Ibadan, South West, Nigeria

Abstract

This article examines women’s involvement in gari processing industry with specific emphasis on the various hazards they encounter during work. The study adopted a cross-sectional qualitative research design and participants were purposively selected from a large gari processing site in Odogbo cantonment, Ojoo Ibadan. Primary data were collected from 41 interviewees and 5 key informants. African feminist theory and systems theory were adopted for explaining the phenomenon. The findings reveal that women are exposed to physical, psychosocial and chemical hazards during gari processing. Lower back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders were the most recurring health issues faced by women in gari processing. These conditions often result in fatigue for the women due to the enormous workload and the long period spent while working. The study concludes that careful attitude to work is the best known way for reducing these hazards that are inherent in the work design.

DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2014.v4n3p511