SAFETY AND HYGIENE IN ABATTOIRS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SLAUGHTERHOUSES IN OREDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA IN EDO STATE
This study examined hygiene practices and operational conditions of public and private abattoirs in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. Abattoirs are vital to public health, yet concerns remain about waste management, environmental safety, and meat handlers’ hygiene. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were collected from 90 randomly selected respondents using structured questionnaires covering hygiene behaviour, sanitation practices, facility conditions, and factors influencing hygiene standards. Findings indicated that most workers had good awareness of personal hygiene, with many reporting regular handwashing and basic sanitation habits. Nevertheless, important gaps were identified, including low levels of post-mortem inspection and inconsistent use of protective equipment. Environmental hygiene practices were uneven; respondents acknowledged the need for adequate drainage, reliable water supply, and regular fumigation, but actual compliance was inconsistent. Major constraints included weak enforcement of hygiene regulations, poor waste disposal systems, and limited knowledge of proper meat processing among butchers. Clear differences existed between public and private abattoirs. Private abattoirs generally maintained higher hygiene standards, attributed to better management, closer supervision, and improved facilities, whereas public abattoirs were characterized by infrastructural deficiencies and regulatory neglect. Overall, while individual hygiene practices were relatively satisfactory, systemic challenges continue to undermine abattoir hygiene.
Keywords: Abattoir hygiene; Public abattoirs; Private abattoirs; Meat safety; Waste management; Environmental sanitation; Regulatory enforcement; Edo State
