Assessment of Waste Pickers' Livelihoods and Potential Health Challenges in Lagos State, Nigeria.

Abstract

This study assesses the livelihoods of waste pickers and the potential health challenges they face, with the primary goal of informing policy development and interventions in Lagos State, Nigeria. A total of 1,274 waste pickers across 20 local governments in Lagos State were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS for Windows. Results indicated that most waste pickers were male (69%) and aged between 18 and 40. Common hazards faced by waste pickers included harassment (19%), injuries (13%), accidents (11%), and burns (7%). Despite these hazards, 50% of waste pickers earned between ₦30,001 and ₦50,001 (approximately $23-38.5) per month, with only a few earning above ₦50,000. Additionally, 70% of respondents reported having savings. Respondents highlighted several measures to improve their livelihoods, including recognition, security, financial support, empowerment, and job opportunities. As a result, 71% of waste pickers expressed willingness to leave their jobs if empowered. The major hazards encountered by waste pickers include harassment (19%), injuries (13%), accidents (11%), and burns (7%).