COMPARATIVE INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON THE HEALTH OF BEGGARS IN SABO, IBADAN, NIGERIA

Abstract

Studies have revealed that the socio-economic situations influenced the migration of beggars in Nigeria. However there is inadequate knowledge about the environmental conditions which may adversely influence their health in the cities they migrate to. The study therefore identified the specific environmental radars which could put the health of beggars at risk while on the streets in Sabo community, Ibadan. The study surveyed all the 108 beggars and an equal number of randomly selected non-beggars, in Sabo. Interviewer administered questionnaire, physical examination and an observational checklist were used to obtain data. Physico-chemical and microbial analyses were performed on twelve water samples which served as drinking water sources for both beggars (six samples) and comparison group (six samples). Twelve soil samples (six from where the beggars live and beg and six from where the non-beggars live and work) were analyzed. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-Square tests. Twenty four per cent of the beggars compared to 76.0% of the comparison group were living in cemented houses while 36.7% beggars as against 2.8% comparison group did not have functional toilet. Majority of the beggars (82.9%) compared to 17.1% of comparison group urinated indiscriminately (p<0.05). A majority (82.4%) of beggars and few (17.6%) comparison group defecated in the bush (P<0.05). Also 85.7% of beggars and 14.3% of comparison group used bucket toilet (p<0.05). Prevalence of the major ailments reported by the beggars and their comparison group respectively were, fevers (42.2% as against 43.5%) diarrheal diseases [(9.2% as against 0.0%) p<0.05], common cold (18.3% as against 10.2%), and abdominal pain [(18.3% as against 10.2%) p<0.05]. The mean conductivity value of drinking water used by the comparison group was 3.2uS/cm (within WHO permissible limit of 1000 uS/cm) while that of the beggars was 1032.6uS/cm (above WHO of permissible limit) (p<0.05). The mean total dissolved solids in water from comparison group was 71.7mg/L (within WHO permissible limit of 500mg/L) compared to 718.9mg in water used by beggars (above WHO permissible limit) (<0.05). The mean nitrate values of water drunk by beggars was 11.4mg/l (above WHO permissible limit of 10mg/I) compared to 0.7mg/ll drunk by comparison group (p<0.05 ). Eighty percent of the drinking water samples from beggars compared to 20.0% of comparison group had 7 coliforms/100ml each for presumptive and confirmed coliform count and 75.0% of drinking water samples from beggar compared to 25.0% of comparison group had 7 Escherichia coli/100ml. The bacterial colonies produced from the soil samples from the beggars and comparison group respectively were Pseudomonas spp (75.0% as against 25.0%), Klebsiella spp (66.7% as against 16.7%), Ecoli (33.3% as against 0.0%), Serratia spp (16.7% as against 0.0%) and Proteus spp (16.7% vs 0.0%). Beggars are more vulnerable to environmental conditions which have potentials for compromising their health. Intervention strategies for rehabilitation of beggars including personal hygiene and environmental sanitation education, provision of toilets, adequate potable water, drainage, adequate waste disposal facility and housing are needed to protect the beggars.