Shop Types and Health Challenges of Foodstuff Traders in Bodija Market, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined possible effects of shop types and market environment on the health conditions of food traders in Bodija market with a view to proposing strategies to ameliorate the health consequences of the market on these traders. Both primary and secondary data were sourced for the study. Systematic random sampling technique was adopted in selecting 186 (15%) of foodstuff sellers in Bodija market. A set of pretested questionnaire was used in obtaining relevant data from sampled sellers. Self-observation and in-depth interviews were also used in collecting primary data. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics(Chi-square at p≤0.05). Three types of shops were identified: lock-up shop (26.3%), open shop (61.3) and hawking (12.4%). Hawkers recorded the highest proportion of traders that had headache daily (17.39%) against lock-up shop (16.33%) and open shop (154.91%) and those that experienced headache once a week (43.48% against 26.53% for lock-up shop and 21.05% for open shop). Higher proportion (30.43%) of hawkers of foodstuff traders than traders in open shop (23.68%) and lock-up shop (16.33%) experienced fatigue several times a week which might be due to the distance covered in selling their goods. Investigations also revealed that open shop foodstuff traders experienced malaria more on a daily basis (2.63%), once a week (10.53%) and Several times a week (2.63%) than other shop structure traders among other variations.

Keywords: Market Environment, Lock-up shop, Open Shop, Hawking, Health Challenges, Food Traders, Bodija Market.