A.S. Onasanya  , 
    Perceived Effects of Faming-Related Health Problems of Farmers’ Productivity in Yewa North Area of Ogun State, Nigeria,
    The Social Sciences,
    Volume 4,Issue 1,
    2009,
    Pages 42-48,
    ISSN 1818-5800,
    sscience.2009.42.48,
    (https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=sscience.2009.42.48)
    Abstract: This study investigated the perceived effects of farming related 
  health problems on farmers’ productivity in selected villages in Yewa North 
  Local Government area of Ogun State, Nigeria. The study covered fourteen villages, 
  from which a total of 152 farmers were randomly selected and interviewed using 
  a structured interview schedule. The study revealed that the common farming 
  related health problems among the farmers include: Body itching, general body 
  pain, matchet cut and malaria (<I>Iba</I>). The farmers resorted into past experiences 
  (self medication) and visiting health centers in order to solve their health 
  problems. The study revealed that the farmers perceived that the effects of 
  farming related health problems was high (<img src="http://medwelljournals.com/fulltext/sscience/2009/images/image-2k9-42-48.gif" width="10" height="11"> 
  = 3.90) on their productivity in the study area. Specifically, they perceived 
  that body itching suffered during farming activities results in low farm turn 
  out and ultimately on low productivity and that adequate rest should be observed 
  after farming activities, so that it will improve their promptness to work the 
  following day, thereby leaving no space for lapses on their farm work, hence 
  leading to improve productivity. Also, the study showed that most of the farmers 
  agreed that cold fever can result to farmers&#146; death thereby paralyzing 
  their productivity, while improper handling of some chemicals can result to 
  skin rashes which in return reduces time available for farm activities and ultimately 
  lowers farmers&#146; productivity. They also perceived that ineffectiveness, 
  inefficiency and reduced productivity could be as a result of fire burns, inhalation 
  of pollens, insect stings and deep cuts from sharp objects. The study concluded 
  that there were no significant relationships between the effects of farming 
  related health problems and selected personal characteristics of the farmers. 
  Specifically, no relationship exists between perceived effects of farming related 
  health problems and age (&#967;<SUP>2</SUP> calculated = 0.811, p&gt;0.05); 
  marital status (&#967;<SUP>2</SUP> calculated = 0.532, p&gt;0.05), household 
  size (&#967;<SUP>2</SUP> calculated = 0.903, p&gt;0.05) and educational level 
  (&#967;<SUP>2</SUP> calculated = 0.519, p&gt;0.05) of the farmers. This is an 
  implication that the effect farming related health problems are not influenced 
  by he selected personal characteristics of farmers. The study therefore, recommended 
  that farmers should be properly educated on personal health care and the type 
  of farming systems that will not endangered their health by extension agents. 
  Also, government should encourage the farmers by providing farming implements 
  that can be hired by farmers to reduce drudgery on their farms at reasonable 
  costs, hence enhancing their productivity without jeopardizing their health.
    Keywords: Farmers;health;farming-related;problems;productivity;perception;effects