Community Health Perceptions Of Oil Pollution: Pregnant Women’S Perspectives From Gokana
Chinedu Emmanuel Okafor
African Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Aisha Ngozi Danjuma
African Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Abstract
This study investigated the attitudes of pregnant women toward the effects of oil spillage on pregnancy outcomes in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. A community-based cross-sectional research design was employed, focusing on women residing in the Mogho and Bodo communities—areas highly impacted by oil pollution. From a population of 384 pregnant women, 197 were selected through a simple random sampling technique, with 192 valid responses analyzed. Data collection was conducted using a self-structured questionnaire developed on a modified 4-point Likert scale, with a reliability coefficient of 0.85. Analytical methods included descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics using chi-square tests.
Findings revealed that 79.2% (n=152) of the respondents exhibited a negative attitude towards the effects of oil spillage on pregnancy outcomes, while only 20.8% (n=40) demonstrated a positive attitude. Several socio-demographic and contextual factors were identified as influencing these attitudes, including the type of accommodation and community of residence, occupation, cultural beliefs, age, awareness levels, educational attainment, economic status, and personal perceptions of oil pollution risks.
The study concludes that a large proportion of pregnant women in oil-polluted communities in Gokana display a dismissive or uninformed attitude toward the potential dangers of environmental contamination on maternal and fetal health. It recommends the implementation of targeted behavioural and educational interventions aimed at increasing awareness and improving risk perception. Enhancing understanding among pregnant women about the adverse effects of environmental hazards like oil spillage could contribute significantly to better pregnancy outcomes and overall maternal well-being