“What we learn today is how we behave tomorrow”: a study on satisfaction level and implementation of environmental health ethics in Nigeria institutions

Abstract

Background The professionalism of environmental health practitioners (EHPs) has been an emerging trend in Nigeria and is governed by the EHORECON, though the EHPs are aware of their professional responsibilities but are concerned about the lack of active engagement with their professional board. Whilst empirical research was undertaken to comprise a case study of a group of EHPs practising to assess the “reality”, on the ground, in terms of the level of awareness and understanding among EHPs about their ethical and professional responsibilities and related challenges. Objective This study assesses the level of satisfaction with the implementation of the Environmental Health Ethics in institutions in Nigeria. Methods Online google form was used to access a large group of EHPs. One hundred and thirty-nine (139) questionnaires were settled for, as the sample size for the study through an adapted and validated questionnaire instrument. Data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 software. Results Most of the practitioners, in general, were satisfied (85.6%) and the teaching method (54.0%) informed their decision. However, the ethical cases that were of the most concern to the majority of the practitioners (53.2%) were negligence. Conclusions This study contributes some ideological facts to the existing literature and practice in nature. Even though, to come to the generalization with the aid of the particular study findings is complex. The study found satisfactory perceptions that signal a need for increased communication between professional bodies, respective organization/institutions, and practitioners regarding applied ethics in environmental health practice so that curriculums could reflect both theory and application. Also, decision-making guides that are empirically informed and tailored for practitioners having some value should be emphasized upon.