Health Effects of Charcoal Production as Perceived by the Rural Dwellers in Rainforest and Guinea Savannah Agro-ecological Zones of Nigeria

Aims: The aim of this study is to access the health effects of charcoal production (CP) as perceived by the rural dwellers in the study area.

Study Design: Survey study. Relevant quantitative data on charcoal production were used.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Rainforest (RF) and Guinea savannah (GS) zones of Nigeria between 14th February 2012 and 1st November 2013.

Methodology: Multiple stage sampling procedure was used to select a sample of 83 and 85 charcoal producers in the Rainforest and Guinea savannah zones respectively. Structured interview schedule data collected and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The study noted that the modal ages of respondents were within the same age-range of between 35 and 44 years. Male respondents were 88.0% and 90.5% from RF and GS respectively. Respondents (59.0%) in RF zone had primary school leaving certificate, while, about 30.6% in the GS attended Koranic School. Eleven was the mean years of experience for CP in the RF zone and 14 years for the GS zones. Hundred percent of the respondents used ancient earth mound method of CP and the respondents (36.1%.) from the RF zone had annual output of more than 128,000kg. Respondents perceived that CP may lead to skin and respiratory tract irritation/infection (72.3%, 57.6%.); CP may cause cut, crush and laceration of hand (78.3%, 69.4%.); burns (90.0%, 49.4%.); back and muscle pains (73.5, 70.6%.) and CP may lead to body wounds (73.5%, 58.5%.) in RF and GS zones respectively. Majority (84.7%) in GS and 84.3%. in RF perceived that CP had negative effects on the health status of rural dwellers. Significant difference was predicted in the health status of charcoal producers between the agro-ecological zones (F=3.124). There is the need for awareness campaign on health consequences of CP.