Health Risk Communication and The Hazards of Portable Electricity Generator Use: A Study of Awareness and Knowledge of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Among Resident Nigerian Public University Students

Abstract

The overall objective of the study was to determine Nigerian university students’ awareness and exposure to label warnings on portable electric power generators; their level of comprehension of these label warnings; knowledge of carbon monoxide poisoning; and, preventive measures taken to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. The survey research method was used for this study. Data was collected in Southeastern Nigeria among undergraduate students, by administering questionnaire to a sample of 400 students from four universities. The study found a high level of exposure to label warnings on house hold products but a minimal exposure to label warnings on portable electric power generating sets among these students.Variables like placement of the warnings, font sizes and religious inclination hindered exposure to the warnings and compliance to the warning message; awareness of carbon monoxide information was high and a greater number among the respondents got informed either through their families and friends or read about it; a relatively lower number got informed through the media. While these university students were aware of carbon monoxide poisoning, they were not properly informed of the different symptoms that are associated with the gas and the preventive measures that could prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. This suggests that carbon monoxide poisoning is not being taken seriously as a health hazard among people susceptible to poisoning.

Key words: Health risk communication, portable electricity generator use, carbon monoxide poisoning, label warnings

DOI: 10.7176/JEES/9-6-14

Publication date:June 30^th 2019