Knowledge and Preventive Attitudes of the Harmful Effects of Carbon Monoxide Among Mechanics in Shinkafi Community Zamfara State Nigeria

Abstract

There are frequent mass casualty reports in the Nigerian mass media on Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning from electrical power generators. This indicates that it is a serious health risk, and deserving the attention of public health professionals (McDonald, Shields, & Frattaroli, 2010; Blumenthal 2001). CO is a common industrial hazard resulting from the incomplete burning of natural gas and any other material containing carbon such as gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane, coal, or wood. Forges, blast furnaces and coke ovens produce CO, but one of the most common sources of exposure in the workplace is the internal combustion engine.

The study design was descriptive cross sectional design that investigated the knowledge and preventive attitude of mechanics on harmful effects of carbon monoxide. Systematic sampling was used in selecting 116 respondents out of 165 mechanics in Shinkafi town, and 18 items semi structured questionnaire was used in data collection. Data collected were analysed in tables using frequencies and percentages. Chi square statistical tool was used in testing the research hypotheses using SPSS version 21.

The result of the study shows that mechanics have very poor knowledge of carbon monoxide; majority of the mechanics (79.3%) did not know that carbon monoxide can enter their blood. However most of the respondents (63.8%) received some information on carbon monoxide. The result also reveals that 75.9% of the respondents mentioned breathlessness as a sign of carbon monoxide harmful effects, 59.5% mentioned visual problem and only 0.9% mentioned muscle ache and loss of consciousness respectively. Majority of the respondents (89.7%) did not receive any training on carbon monoxide prevention, and prevention measures were poor among them. Hypotheses testing show that there was no significant difference in knowledge of carbon monoxide and preventive measures between different variables of the respondents such as age, educational level and years of experience.

It is therefore concluded that most of the mechanics were having little knowledge of carbon monoxide harmful effects and preventive measures. Preventive measures were not sufficient at garages and mechanics need to be educated on the harmful effects of carbon monoxide and how to prevent self from being affected. It is also recommended that government should provide proper places that are proper to be used as garages, enacts policies that control the mechanics garages and provide regular garages inspection system.

Key words: knowledge, prevention, attitude, mechanics, carbon monoxide, harmful effects