DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

This study investigates impact of plastic waste on our physical environment in Benin. Four (4) research questions were raised to guide the study. The distribution of the population of this study were the residents of Benin City including customers and retailers distributed across the 3 local government areas which includes, Egor, Ikpoba-Okha and Oredo. The sample size adopted for the study was a total of Three Hundred (300) respondents within the area of the study. That is 100 respondents selected from each local government area that made up Benin City using a stratified random sampling technique. The major instrument used for this study was the questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed and validated by experts in the department of Health, Safety and Environmental Education, Faculty of Education University of Benin. Data were analyzed using descriptive
statistical techniques such as tables, frequencies counts, and simple percentages

The purpose of this study examined the knowledge, practices, and impact of impropersolid waste disposal among undergraduates in the Halls of Residence, UniversityofBenin, Ugbowo Campus. The study was guided by five research questions whichfocusedon the students’ knowledge of proper solid waste disposal, their awareness of disposal
facilities and methods, their understanding of the health and environmental consequencesof improper disposal, the extent of their participation in improper disposal practices, andthe challenges that hinder effective waste management in the halls of residence. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population consistedofundergraduate students residing in the 12 Halls of Residence at the University of Benin, Ugbowo Campus, with a total estimated population of 12,234 residents (Student Affairs, ICT Department, 2025). A sample of 180 students was selected using the stratifiedsampling technique, with each hostel serving as a stratum to ensure fair representationofthe population. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire. Thevalidity of the instrument was ensured through expert judgment by my project supervisorand two other specialists in the field. To establish reliability, the split-half methodwas
employed. The questionnaire was administered personally to the respondents, ensuringadequate coverage of all hostels. Data collected were analyzed using frequencycounts, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Findings showed that the majority of respondents (80%) demonstrated high knowledgeofproper solid waste disposal while 20% showed low knowledge. Awareness was moderate: about 65% of students reported having received information or education onwastedisposal and 59.4% were aware of disposal facilities in their hostels, yet only52.2%could correctly distinguish biodegradable from non-biodegradable waste. Participationinsanitation activities was low (41.7%), and only 36.7% believed their peers weresufficiently aware. On perception, students recorded a high cluster mean(3.22), indicating strong recognition that improper disposal contributes to pest infestation, waterpollution, flooding, respiratory problems, and communicable diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and malaria. Despite the generally high knowledge and risk awareness, someimproper practices were still reported, though they were not predominant (cluster mean=2.19). Lapses included dumping refuse near drainage channels, throwing waste out ofwindows or balconies, and flushing inappropriate items into toilets; respondents largelyattributed these behaviours to inadequate waste facilities (insufficient bins) and irregularcollection services. Students also demonstrated high awareness of the systemicchallenges hindering effective hostel waste management (82.2%), identifying inadequate infrastructure, irregular collection, weak institutional enforcement, and limited sensitization as principal obstacles. Overall, these results point to a clear knowledge–practice gap that requires both behavioural interventions and institutional improvements.

This study investigated impediments to solid waste management in Benin Metropolis. Impediments are those factors that hinder solid waste management, it was aimed at ascertaining the relationship between segregation, storage, collection, transportation, and disposal stage of solid waste as it affects solid waste management. Seven (7) research questions guided the study, alongside one hypothesis and tested at a 0.05 level of significance. The descriptive survey research design was used in the study. The study population comprised one hundred and sixteen (116) registered solid waste management companies operating within
the three Local Government Areas that constitute Benin Metropolis. Sample sizes of seventy (70) registered solid waste management companies, representing sixty percent (60%) of the population, were selected using the multi-stage sampling technique (stratified, proportional and simple random sampling techniques). Data were collected using two research instruments: a structure questionnaire and a checklist. The structured questionnaire and the checklist were validated by the researcher’s chief and co supervisor ant three others. The questionnaire reliability was determined through the test-retest method and analyzed using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation, yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.73. However, the checklist was not subjected to reliability test. Descriptive statistics (frequency counts, percentages, means, and standard deviations) were employed to analyze the research questions, while inferential statistics (ANOVA) was used to test the hypothesis

A descriptive survey of 230 University of Benin undergraduates explored social media's impact on mental health. Findings revealed a dual effect: while social media was a source of happiness for many, a majority also reported feeling depressed from its use. Students widely agreed that prolonged use negatively impacts sleep and concentration and that females are more vulnerable to cyberbullying. The study recommends university-led awareness programs and support systems to help students manage these negative effect

This research was aimed at investigating the incidence of alcoholism among tertiary institutions male staff members of Ovia North-East Local Government Area: Case study of University of Benin. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population of this study consisted of two hundred and fifteen (215) male staff members (academics and non-academics) of Faculty of Education, University of Benin in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State. The sample size of this study was one hundred (100) male staff members drawn from the population using the systematic random sample technique. Research instrument in form of questionnaire was designed and validated by the researcher’s supervisor and two other experts, which was used to collect data from the male staff members for the purpose of this study. The descriptive statistics of simple frequency counts and percentage was used to analyze the data collected.

This study seeks to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practices of prostate cancer screening among men in Egba Community, Uhunmwonde LGA of Edo State. Four research questions were raised to guide this study and relevant literatures related to prostate cancer were clearly discussed. The descriptive research design was adopted for this study and random sampling
technique was used to select one hundred and five (105) men in Egba community, data were collectedfrom the 105 respondents using a closed ended questionnaire with twenty (22) items. The data collected was analyzed and interpreted using simple frequencies, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Based on the data collected and analyzed, it was discovered that male staff in Egor local government secretariat have low knowledge of prostate cancer screening, positive attitudes towards prostate cancer screening and do not practice prostate cancer Screening. Also, from the data collected and analyzed, it is observed thatfactors such as distance to health facility, cultural and religious beliefs, family history of prostate cancer, fear of positive result influence male staff's knowledge, attitude and practice of prostate cancer screening. It was recommended that Intervention programs aimed at improving knowledge and attitudes towards prostate cancer screening among men should be designed to reinforce prostate cancer screening practices across the country. It was recommended that there should be sensitization of health care providers on issuesrelated to prostate cancer screening and encourage them to have conversations with their male patients and provide information to help them decide whether to screen or not.

The study focused on the knowledge, attitudes and practices towards menstrual hygiene among female students in University of Benin. Four(4) research questions guided this study. The descriptive survey research design was adopted to carry out this study. The population of the study comprises of female undergraduate students in the eight (8) departments of the Faculty of Education in the University of Benin with the total 4,398. A sample size of 100 female students were selected using the simple random sampling technique. The research instrument used was a structured questionnaire used to obtain data from the sample population. The instrument was validated by the supervisor and two other lecturers in the Department of Health, Safety and Environmental Education. The split-half method was used to ascertain the reliability of the instrument. A total of one hundred (100) questionnaires were administered to the sample population and data collected was analyzed using simple percentages and frequency counts. Findings from the study revealed that female students in the University of Benin have high level of knowledge and positive attitudes towards menstrual hygiene and actively practice proper hygiene habits. Most students track their menstrual cycles regularly and use sanitary pads and tampons as their preferred menstrual products. While menstrual
hygiene is recognized as an essential aspect of women's health, opinions vary on how openly it should be discussed. The study highlights the need for increased access to affordable menstrual products, improved menstrual hygiene education for both genders, and better disposal facilities. Based on these findings, recommendations include providing free or subsidized menstrual products by the University and relevant stakeholders particularly for students from low-income backgrounds, integrating
menstrual hygiene education into health programs for both male and female students, installing more sanitary disposal bins, promoting open discussions through awareness campaigns, and implementing proper disposal measures such as awareness programs or fines in order to maintain hygiene on campus

This study investigated the attitudes of undergraduate students at the University of Benin towards waste segregation. The research adopted a descriptive survey design, with a sample size of 400 respondents selected through a multistage sampling technique across ten faculties. Data were collected using a structured instrument titled Attitude Towards Waste Segregation Questionnaire (ATWSQ) and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, and mean scores. Findings revealed that although most undergraduates demonstrated awareness of the importance of waste segregation and held positive attitudes towards it, majority of the students do not participate in waste segregation. The study further showed that students showed a generally positive perception of the ease and convenience of waste segregation but the insufficient number of waste bins hindered effective participation. Internal motivations (environmental concern), and social factors (peer behavior) were identified as major factors influencing students’ attitudes towards waste segregation, while lack of clear information, weak institutional support, and low motivation constituted barriers.

A descriptive survey of 230 University of Benin undergraduates explored social media's impact on mental health. Findings revealed a dual effect: while social media was a source of happiness for many, a majority also reported feeling depressed from its use. Students widely agreed that prolonged use negatively impacts sleep and concentration and that females are more vulnerable to cyberbullying. The study recommends university-led awareness programs and support systems to help students manage these negative effect

The increasing concern over environmental sustainability has highlighted the need to understand and promote effective recycling behaviors among university students. This study, titled “Factors Influencing Recycling Behavior among Students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN)”, investigated the determinants of recycling practices, with particular attention to the persistent gap between awareness and actual participation despite institutional sustainability initiatives.Anchored in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the study examined how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control influence students’ recycling intentions and actions. The research also explored the role of demographic variables—age, sex, and religious affiliation—in shaping these behaviors. A sample size of 250 students was selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and data were collected through a self- structured questionnaire administered to undergraduate, part-time, and postgraduate students at UNIBEN. Section A captured demographic information, Section B explored factors influencing recycling behavior, and Section C assessed the moderating effect of demographic variables on these behaviors. Hypotheses were tested at a 0.05 significance level. xii Findings revealed that 67.1% of the respondents demonstrated positive recycling behavior and acknowledged some social expectations to participate, their actual engagement was significantly constrained by perceived behavioral control challenges, including limited recycling bins, unclear waste segregation procedures, and irregular collection services while 32.9% exhibited negative or inconsistent recycling behavior. The study shows that while students generally display positive recycling behavior, structural and institutional barriers limit full participation. Recommendations include expanding recycling infrastructure, integrating environmental education into the curriculum, engaging student cultural and religious groups, and establishing a formal campus environmental policy. By implementing these strategies, the University of Benin can transform positive attitudes into meaningful recycling action and serve as a model for sustainable waste management in nigeria